Malignant lymphoma
| Lymphoma | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Follicular lymphoma replacing a lymph node | |
| Specialty | Hematology and oncology |
| Symptoms | Enlarged lymph nodes, fever, sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, feeling tired |
| Risk factors | Epstein–Barr virus, autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, tobacco smoking |
| Diagnostic method | Lymph node biopsy |
| Treatment | Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, surgery |
| Prognosis | Average five year survival 85% (USA) |
| Frequency | 4.9 million (2015) |
| Deaths | 204,700 (2015) |
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| External resources |
Lymphoma is a group of blood cell tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The name often refers to just the cancerous ones rather than all such tumors. Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, and constantly feeling tired. The enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless. The sweats are most common at night.
There are dozens of subtypes of lymphomas. The two main categories of lymphomas are Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL) and the non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The World Health Organization (WHO) includes two other categories as types of lymphoma: multiple myeloma and immunoproliferative diseases. About 90% of lymphomas are non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Lymphomas and leukemias are a part of the broader group of tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues.
Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include infection with Epstein–Barr virus and a history of the disease in the family. Risk factors for common types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas include autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, infection with human T-lymphotropic virus, immunosuppressant medications, and some pesticides. Eating large amounts of red meat and tobacco smoking may also increase the risk. Diagnosis, if enlarged lymph nodes are present, is usually by lymph node biopsy. Blood, urine, and bone marrow testing may also be useful in the diagnosis.Medical imaging may then be done to determine if and where the cancer has spread. Lymphoma most often spreads to the lungs, liver, and brain.
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