Abstract

AIM:

The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and sociodemographic factors associated with adult malignant lymphoma in Benin City, Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

METHOD:

A retrospective study of 205 patients with a diagnosis of lymphoma seen over a 13-year period (1990-2003) at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. They were analyzed in the context of gender, marital status, geographical abode, educational and occupational status. The patients had sufficient data recorded at diagnosis to allow retrospective assignment into the various subtypes.

RESULTS:

There were 70 males and 135 females with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1:9. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was more frequent (83%) while Hodgkin's lymphoma had incidence of 17%. Marital status (P = 0.0002), geographical abode (p = 0.0046), educational (P = 0.0045) and occupational status (p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with the malignant lymphoma at presentation. All the lymphoma subtypes were most common in patients who resided in Delta state, a major oil producer. The majority of the lymphoma patients (46.3%) had tertiary form of education. The highest and lowest social classes were most likely to have lymphoma, which may have been related to age and industrial exposure.

CONCLUSION:

Poverty and illiteracy are additional problems with patients with malignant lymphomas. Living in Delta State where the petrochemical industries and gas flare sites are located may be a risk factor for the development of lymphoma.