Lymphoproliferative diseases in the west of Ireland: An epidemiological study

An analysis of the morphological records of the hospitals in the Western Health Board Region was undertaken to establish the incidence of lymphoproliferative diseases in this area. The period under study was 9 1/2 years, and the various disorders included were acute and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, hairy-cell leukaemia, and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia. Despite the observed increased incidence of multiple myeloma in this region,¹ no such trend was noted for the other members of the lymphoproliferative disease category. A notable feature, however, was the reduced incidence of Hodgkin's disease in males and the simultaneous decrease in the male/female ratio for this disease.