[Low incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma but high seroprevalence of HTLV-I in Curaçao].

Objective: To determine whether the low incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Curaçao has changed in comparison with the increase in incidence in many western countries, and to investigate the role of the HTLV-I infection that is endemic in the Caribbean area.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

Method: Retrospective file analysis in the only hospital in Curaçao.

Results: During the period 1987-1992, 31 patients had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of NHL resulting in an annual incidence rate of 4.9/100,000 adults. There was a strong age-related increase in NHL incidence rate (0.5 for patients < 30 years to 17.8 for patients > or = 70 years), with a male to female ratio of I. (In the western world the incidence is 12-14, in the seventies it was 4.5 in Curaçao.) Seven of 12 patients (58%) tested were seropositive for HTLV-I. Median survival was 6 months, despite conventional therapy.

Conclusion: While HTLV-I infection can often be demonstrated in NHL patients in Curaçao, NHL incidence has remained low over the past 25 years.