LYMPHOMA OUTCOMES: A RETROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON LYMPHOMA AT A TERTIARY MEDICAL CENTRE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

Key Words: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands
Introduction: Lymphoma is one of the curable cancers that has been treated with chemotherapy in the Solomon Islands for over a decade. It is the fourth leading cancers in the Solomon Islands. Despite this there is no available data on its demography and outcomes.
Method: A retrospective descriptive study of the biopsy confirmed lymphoma in the NRH from the period of January 2009 to December 2018.
Results: A total of 58 patients aged 14 years and above were included in the study
The incidence of both lymphomas were 8.9 /100,000 with NHL at 6.6/100000 and HL at 2.3/100000. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was more common than HL with a ratio of 3: 1 at 75% and 25.4% respectively. Both lymphomas were common in males than females at a ratio of 2: 1. Majority 53.6% and 46% of NHL and HL respectively presents in advanced stage to the diagnosing center.
Discussion: The baseline characteristics of the lymphoma obtained from this study is comparable to that in the literature. However, complete remission was substantially lower, with higher rates of relapse and progressive/ refractory disease in those receiving chemotherapy.