Lymphoma (2) Flashcards
What is it?
What are its 2 main types?
➊ Group of cancers caused by malignant proliferations of lymphocytes in the lymphatic system, accumulating in the nodes to cause lymphadenopathy
➋ • Hodgkin’s - very specific disease
• Non-Hodgkin’s - umbrella term for all other lymphomas
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma:
What is it?
What are its risk factors?
How does it present?
➊ Malignant lymphomas characterised by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells
➋ • EBV
• Immunosuppression e.g. HIV, Drugs
• Smoking
➌ • Painless, cervical/supraclavicular lymphadenopathy
• Weight loss, night sweats, fever
N.B. Lympahedonapthy may become painful with alcohol
Which investigations are done?
How is it staged?
How is it managed?
➊ • Lymph node biopsy - Shows presence of Reed Sternberg cells (like an owl face)
• Bloods - Hb, LDH (raised indicates a poorer prognosis)
➋ Ann Arbor Staging with CT/MRI/PET:
• Stage 1 - 1 region of nodes
• Stage 2 - Nodes on same side of diaphragm (above/below)
• Stage 3 - Nodes on both sides of diaphragm (above + below)
• Stage 4 - Widespread involvement of non-lymphatic organs
➌ Chemoradiotherapy
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma:
What is it?
What are its 2 main types?
How does it present?
Which investigations are done?
How is it managed?
➊ Malignant lymphomas characterised by the absence of Reed-Sternberg cells
➋ • Burkitt’s lymphoma - associated with EBV and HIV
• Gastric MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue) - associated with H. pylori infection
➌ • Painless lymphadenopathy - Compared to Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the lymphadenopathy is more likely to be symmetrical, at multiple sites, and spread discontinuously across nodal sites
• Weight loss, night sweats, fever
➍ • Lymph node biopsy - Shows presence of Reed Sternberg cells (like an owl face)
• Bloods - Hb, LDH (raised indicates a poorer prognosis)
➎ Watchful waiting, Chemoradiotherapy, Rituximab, Stem cell transplant
