LYMPHOMA Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is lymphoma?
Malignant tumour of the lymphatic system caused by excess proliferation of lymphocytes which accumulate in the lymph nodes and infiltrate organs
What are the two types?
o Hodgkin’s – Reed-Sternberg cells with characteristic mirror-image nuclei
o Non-hodgkin’s – no Reed-Sternberg cells; not always centered on nodes – can be found on other MALTs such as in skin, oropharynx, gut, small bowel, bone, CAN and lung
• Precursor B-cell neoplasms
• Mature B-cell neoplasms à high or low grade
• Precursor T-cell neoplasms
• Mature T-cell neoplasms à high or low grade
Which type has Reed-Sternberg cells?
Hodgkin’s
What age group is Hodgkin’s most common?
Hodgkin’s is most common 20-34y and >70y
Which is more common?
Non-Hodgkin’s is x5 more common
What age group is non-Hodgkin’s most common?
Non-Hodgkin’s >50y
What is the presentation?
o Lymphadenopathy – mostly cervical; painless, non-tenderm rubbery o Weight loss o Fever o Night sweats o Pruritis o Lethargy o Alcohol-induced lymph node pain o Mediastinal lymph node involvement à bronchial/SVC obstruction; direct extension à pleural effusions o Spleno/hepatomegaly
How is it investigated?
Tested via blood tests and lymph node excision biopsy
How is it staged?
o I-IV according to single lymph node, two or more lymph nodes on either side of diaphragm and spread beyond lymph nodes
o A or B according to presence of B symptoms: >10% weight loss in last 6 months, night sweats, unexplained fever >38 degrees
How is Hodgkin’s treated?
treated with chemoradiotherapy
What is the prognosis of Hodgkin’s?
5 year survival >95% in Ia lymphocyte-predominant and <40% in IVb lymphocyte-depleted disease
How is non-Hodgkin’s treated?
treated with radiotherapy in localised disease and monoclonal antibodies in more diffuse disease
What is the prognosis of non-Hodgkin’s?
o High grade lymphomas are more aggressive but often curable and low-grade are indolent and often incurable
o 5 year survival 30% for hhigh grade and >50% for low grade disease
