Malignant Lymphoreticular Tumors in Israel 1 2

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Data on the frequency of the various types of malignant lymphoma in Israel were presented on the basis of a histologic re-evaluation of 396 lymphomas diagnosed during the period, January 1, 1967, to December 31, 1968. The reviewed cases represented 94.5% of the histologically diagnosed malignant lymphomas recorded in the Israel Cancer Registry during this period. The diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was confirmed in 371 (94%) of the cases reviewed. Reticulum cell sarcoma and lymphosarcoma each accounted for about one-third of all lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease for 27.5%. Hodgkin's disease predominated in young aduits, whereas lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma predominated in the older age groups. The age-specific incidence rates for lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma increased steeply in males >35 years old and in females >45 years old. The rates for Hodgkin's disease showed peaks in the 15- to 24-year and 55- to 64-year age groups in females and in the 35- to 44-year age group in males. The male/female ratio for cases of Hodgkin's disease was 1.17:1, but the sex ratio varied in the different age groups. Mixed cellularity (32% of cases) was the most common type of Hodgkin's disease encountered. Nodular sclerosis accounted for 27% of the cases, was found mainly in young adults, and occurred twice as often in females than in males. Preliminary data on possible differences between various population groups were presented. The special frequency of small intestinal lymphomas in non-Jews and in Jews born in Asia or Africa was confirmed. A comparison of age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates for malignant lymphoma in foreign-born Jews showed lower rates in males born in Europe or America in the younger age groups and in females born in Africa in the older age groups. In young adults (15–34 yr old), the rates for lymphosarcoma-reticulum sarcoma were higher in Jews born in Africa or Asia than in those born in Europe or America, whereas the rates for Hodgkin's disease seemed to be higher in Jews born in Europe or America. It was necessary to change the original cancer registry coding of 11.4% of the cases of malignant lymphoma reviewed. The information available in the cancer registry was fairly accurate with respect to Hodgkin's disease, but was of no value in separating lymphosarcoma from reticulum cell sarcoma. A high proportion of the latter cases were recorded as malignant lymphoma, type unspecified. The cancer registry data have very definite limitations with respect to the different types of leukemia. The registry figures may represent an underestimate for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.