Primary Extranodal Gastrointestinal Lymphoma: A Single Center Experience from Southern Iran – Report of Changing Epidemiology

Objectives: Gastrointestinal lymphoma is the most common type of extranodal non-Hogkin s lymphoma. The proportion and different types of primary extranodal gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin s lymphoma are different in various geographic locations. Therefore, in this study we tried to evaluate the various types of extranodal gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin s lymphoma in affiliated hospitals of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences as the largest referral center in the southern Iran. Design: During 5 years (2005 - 2010), the pathology archives and clinical charts of all patients diagnosed with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin s lymphoma in the affiliated hospitals of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were evaluated. All demographic and pathologic findings were recorded. Results: During these 5 years, there were 110 cases with the diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma. The most common location was stomach followed by small intestine and colon. The most common type was diffuse large B cell type. There were only two cases of immunoproliferative small intestinal lymphoma. Conclusion: The pattern of gastrointestinal lymphoma in Iran is very similar to the Western countries. Compared with 40 years ago, it seems that the epidemiology of this lymphoma has changed.