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Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in cells of the lymph system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas. One kind is Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The other category is non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently. Both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can occur in children and adults.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
These and other symptoms may be caused by adult non-Hodgkin´s lymphoma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
- Painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, groin, or stomach.
- Fever for no known reason.
- Drenching night sweats.
- Feeling very tired.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Skin rash or itchy skin.
- Pain in the chest, abdomen, or bones for no known reason.
To diagnose non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, the following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam.
- Complete blood count (CBC).
- Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it.
- Lymph node biopsy: The removal of all or part of a lymph node that is
then viewed under a microscope and checked for signs of disease.
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
- Liver function tests: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by the liver. For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the blood is checked for an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). LDH levels help determine prognosis (chance of recovery).
Causes
All cancers are caused by dysfunctions of proteins involved in cell division, apoptosis, or DNA repair (see general characteristics). Dysfunctional proteins may arise from gene mutations or protein interactions with environments such as viral proteins. The following risk factors may increase the
chance of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas:
- Being older, male, or white.
- Having one of the following medical conditions:
(1) An inherited immune disorder.
(2) An autoimmune disease.
(3) HIV/AIDS.
(4) Human T-lymphotrophic virus type I or Epstein-Barr virus.
(5) A history of Helicobacter pylori infection.
- Taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.
- Being exposed to certain pesticides.
- A diet high in meats and fat.
- Past treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Reference:
National Cancer Institute, USA.
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