Lymphomas diagnosed in Uganda during the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

BACKGROUND There are numerous reports from different countries documenting a change in frequency and profile of lymphomas after the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In Uganda little is known concerning the distribution of lymphoma subtypes diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences during this period. OBJECTIVE To examine the frequency and diagnostic profile of lymphomas diagnosed in Uganda in the HIV/AIDS era. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Department of Pathology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. SUBJECTS One thousand and thirteen patients diagnosed with lymphomas in the period 1980-1989. RESULTS The most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was Burkitt lymphoma (36%). The frequencies of lymphocytic and histiocytic types were 34.5% and 8.2% respectively. CONCLUSION There was a decrease in histopathologically diagnosed lymphomas in Uganda in the period 1980-1989. Burkitt lymphoma continues to be the most common subtype diagnosed, some major lymphoma subtypes like T-cell and follicular lymphomas were not reported in the country in the HIV/AIDS era.