Lymphoma is any of a number of cancers that arise in the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small masses of tissue that lie along the lymphatic vessels (see Lymphatic system ). Lymph nodes filter out harmful particles and bacteria that have entered the body. Lymph nodes are a part of the body’s immune system , a system of cells , proteins, and tissues that defend the body against disease and other harm.
Lymphocytes are a kind of white blood cell present in the lymph nodes. They defend the body against infection. These cells live in specific areas of the lymph node. Lymphocytes can become cancerous, resulting in lymphoma. To be classified as lymphoma, cancer must arise from lymphocytes within the lymph nodes. Cells from another type of cancer, such as breast cancer and colon cancer , that have spread to the lymph nodes are not considered lymphoma.
There are two major types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma (also called Hodgkin’s disease ) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma generally occurs in younger adults, while non-Hodgkin lymphoma can occur in both younger and older adults. There are many subtypes of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Advances in understanding the specific cells that comprise both types of lymphomas have led to many improvements in treatments.
Enlargement of the lymph nodes causes several symptoms in those suffering from lymphoma. These symptoms include swelling in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. The enlarged lymph nodes may put pressure on or block the normal function of other organs in the body, leading to pain and discomfort. Frequently, lymphoma also results in fever , sweats at night, and weight loss. Many patients will experience no symptoms. However, an enlarged lymph node may be discovered during an evaluation such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or other X-ray examination for an unrelated complaint.
The discovery of an enlarged lymph node generally leads to a biopsy . A biopsy is a medical technique by which living tissue is obtained for examination under the microscope . A piece of tissue is removed from the lymph node and examined by a pathologist , who determines if lymphoma cells are present and if so, what specific types of cells are involved. If lymphoma is diagnosed, doctors will perform a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to find any other abnormal lymph nodes in the rest of the body. Additional testing may determine whether the lymphoma cells have specific mutations (changes in hereditary material).
Doctors determine a course of treatment based on the specific type of lymphoma and its extent throughout the body. Treatment can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy (drug therapy), and immunotherapy. Immunotherapies stimulate the body’s immune system to fight disease (see Cancer (Immunotherapy) ). Monoclonal antibody treatments are an important type of immunotherapy. After treatment, a significant number of patients are cured of their lymphoma. If the lymphoma recurs, there are additional treatments that are highly effective in further controlling and treating the disease.
