Incidence of Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma in Mexico by Histologic Subtypes and Socioeconomic Regions

Abstract

Background: Incidence rates of the histologic subtypes of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) differed with socioeconomic conditions.

Materials and methods: HL cases from the Register of Childhood Cancer (below 15 y of age) for 2 socioeconomic regions were analyzed. Central region has a high socioeconomic index; and the southern region a low index. The incidence rates (cases per million children/year) were estimated according to histologic subtypes, age groups, sex, clinical stages, time to diagnosis, and overall survival by regions.

Results: The overall incidence was greater in the south (6.8 vs. 4.6), principally due to higher incidence of mixed cellularity subtype (3.8 vs. 1.0). In the south, the highest incidence was found in the 5- to 9-year-old group (9.2), whereas in the central region it was found in the 10- to 14-year-old group (7.4). There was a delay of ∼3 weeks in the time to diagnosis (P=0.36) in the south, but no difference in the percentage of advanced stages, adjusted by histologic subtype (61%, III and IV). The overall survival was 71%, differences were identified only for mixed cellularity cases (center=89.2 vs. south=61.5%, P=0.03).

Conclusions: Incidences of HL subtypes differed in relation to socioeconomic conditions in Mexico. In the south, the incidence of mixed cellularity was higher and there was an earlier peak of presentation.