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The aim of this study is to evaluate the basic epidemiological and clinical characteristics of lymphoma in childhood at the Department of Hematooncology, Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo (CCUS), in ten year period. Patients and Methods: the study included 58 patients, of both gender, aged 0-15 years, diagnosed with lymphoma at the Department of Hematooncology, Pediatric Clinic of CCUS, in the period from January 1st 2004 to December 31st 2013. The retrospective study of patients with lymphoma in childhood was conducted. The results were presented using tables and charts, with number of cases and percentages. Statistical analysis of significant differences was performed using Fisher and Chi-square test. The values of p<0.05 or on the level reliability of 95% were considered statistically significant. Results: our study included 58 patients, 37 (63.80%) boys and 21 (36.20%) girls. Most of the patients were in the age group of 8-15 years, namely 38 (65.50%) patients. The leading symptom of lymphoma in childhood was lymphadenopathy, which was presented in 45 (77.58%) patients, followed by subfebrile temperature in 19 (32.75%), paleness in 16 (27.59%), hepatosplenomegaly in 13 (22.41%), and weight loss in 12 (20.69%) patients. The following elevated values were noted: LDH in 16 patients with HL and 14 with NHL, and Cu in 15 patients with HL and 10 with NHL. Majority of the patients with HL were diagnosed in stage II of disease, 12 (37.50%) patients, and 11 (34.40%) in stage IV. Majority of patients with NHL were diagnosed in stage II, 13 (50%), and 8 (30.80%) in stage IV. Conclusion: clinical diagnostic methods and modern therapy at the Pediatric Clinic of CCUS contribute to good prognosis for patients suffering from lymphoma in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: lymphomas are the primary neoplasias of the lymphatic system, which are usually manifested by painless enlargement of the lymph nodes. In children, the third most common malignancy are lymphomas, after leukemias and brain tumors. They represent 10-13% of newfound malignancies in children. There has been progress in the last 20 years as a diagnostic as well as therapeutic. Despite the progress of genetics, molecular biology and immunology, and their significant results, causes of these diseases have not yet been identified. Aim: the aim of this study is to evaluate the basic epidemiological and clinical characteristics of childhood lymphoma at the Hematooncology Department of Pediatric Clinic of the Sarajevo University Clinical Center (CCUS) in a ten year period. Patients and methods: the study included 58 patients, of both gender, aged 0 through 15, with diagnosis of lymphoma at the Hematooncology Department of the Pediatric Clinic of CCUS, during the period from January 1st 2004 to December 31st 2013. The retrospective study of patients with lymphoma in childhood was conducted. The results were presented using tables and charts, with number of cases and percentages. Statistical analysis of significant differences was performed using Fisher and Chi - square test. The values of p<0.05 or on the level reliability of 95% were considered statistically significant. Results: our study included 58 patients, 37 (63.80%) boys and 21 (36.20%) girls. It showed a higher percentage prevalence of boys compared to girls. Most patients were in the age group of 8-15 years, 38 (65.50%) patients. The leading symptom of lymphoma in childhood was lymphadenopathy, which was presented in 45 (77.58%) patients, followed by subfebrile temperature in 19 (32.75%), paleness in 16 (27.59%), hepatosplenomegaly in 13 (22.41%), and weight loss in 12 (20.69%) patients. The following elevated values were noted: LDH in 16 patients with HL and 14 with NHL, and Cu in 15 patients with HL and 10 with NHL. Most patients with HL were diagnosed in stage II of disease, 12 (37.50%) patients, and 11 (34.40%) in stage IV. Most patients with NHL were diagnosed in stage II, 13 (50%), and 8 (30.80%) in the IV stage. After leukemias (157 patients - 39.20%), lymphomas were the second malignancies in children, represented with 14.50% of all malignancies diagnosed at the Pediatric Clinic. Each year, an average 5.8 of new cases has ocurred and majority of them (10 new cases) in 2013. Ten-year survival of patients with HL was 87.50% and 80.77% with NHL. Conclusion: lymphomas are the second malignancies in children at the Pediatric Clinic of CCUS. Most patients are in the age group of 8-15 years, with higher percentage prevalence of boys compared to girls. Clinical diagnostic methods and modern therapy at the Pediatric Clinic contribute to the good prognosis for patients suffering from lymphoma in childhood. The survival rates of patients are similar to those in the international centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]