Hodgkin lymphoma at the paediatric oncology unit of Gabriel-Touré teaching Hospital Bamako (Mali): 3 years experience

Approximately 20 000 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed each year in North America and Europe. However in Africa, the incidence of this condition is almost unknown. While publications from western countries and the rest of world are numerous in the literature, few data from Africa about this malignancy are available. The aim of this retro and prospective, unicentric study over 3 years is to describe the epidemiologic, pathologic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of children treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in our paediatric oncology unit of Gabriel-Toure Hospital, Bamako (Mali). From January 2005 to December 2007, all children under 18 years of age, with histologically proven Hodgkin lymphoma, not previously treated by chemotherapy and HIV negative, were included in this study. Informed consent was obtained from parents. The treatment protocol was the GFAOP (Groupe franco-africain d’oncologie pediatrique) Hodgkin lymphoma treatment protocol: COPP/ABV (Cyclophosphamid, Vincristin, Prednisone, Procarbazin, Adriamycine, bleomycin and vinblastine). During the study period, 217 cancer cases were diagnosed in our centre. Of these cases, 7 were Hodgkin Lymphoma (0.04%). The average age was 11.7 years. The sex-ratio was 6/1 in favor of boys. 6.71% (5/7) of the patients were stage IIB and 28.6 % (2/7) of the patients were stage IIIB of the Ann-Arbor classification. Histologically, there were 42.8% cases of sclero-nodular subtype, 28.6% of lymphocyte-rich subtype, 14.3 % of mixed cellularity and 14.3% of lymphocyte depleted subtype. After 4 years follow-up, 5 patients (71.4 %) were alive, and 2 patients (28.6 %) had died from drug toxicity. Hodgkin lymphoma is a relatively rare condition in African children which can be cured. Broader multicentric studies are needed for more accurate data on this malignancy.