Lymphoma

Question 1

Symptoms of lymphoma?

Answer 1

Lymphadenopathy.

General symptoms of night swats and weight loss, and fever.

Itch without rash, alcohol induced pain, fatigue.

Often can’t tell and need a lymph node biopsy.

Question 2

Differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy?

Answer 2

‘Reactive’
Bacterial infections (regional)
Viral infection (generalised)
Metastatic malignancy 
Lymphoma 
TB

Question 3

Tender lymph nodes make you think about what?

Answer 3

A viral or bacterial infections.

Question 4

Lymphoma nodes clinical appearance?

Answer 4

Not tender, rubbery/soft, smooth, no skin inflammation and not tethered.

Question 5

Can lymphoma be diagnosed by ct?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

What test is useful for confirming a lymphoma and helping to sub-classify?

Answer 6

Immunihistochemistry (looks at patterns of proteins on the surface of lymphoma cells)

Question 7

Hodgkin’s lymphoma immunohistochemistry findings?

Answer 7

CD30 +ve Reed Sternberg cells.

Question 8

Immunohistochemistry findings in non-hodgkins lymphoma?

Answer 8

CD20 +ve

Question 9

Cytogenetic analysis:

G banding looks at the spread of chromosomes…

Answer 9

FISH looks at specific abnormalities.

Question 10

How is Lymphoma classified in practice?

Answer 10

1) Hodgkins
2) T cell NHL
3) B cell NHL (low and high grade)