NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA (con't)
Overview of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Definition of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. Hodgkin's disease is one type of lymphoma. All other lymphomas are grouped together and are called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system. It helps the body fight disease and infection. The lymphatic system is a connecting network of glands and vessels which manufacture and circulate lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that contains infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes.
Along this network of vessels are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen. Other parts of the lymphatic system are the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and bone marrow. Lymphatic tissue is also found in other parts of the body, including the stomach, intestines and skin.
Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body. It can occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, or in another organ. It can spread to almost any part of the body, including the liver, bone marrow, and spleen.
Types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
There are at least 30 different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The distinctions are based on the type of cancer cells.
In a nutshell, high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas include:
- Burkitt's
- Non-Burkitt's
- Diffuse
- Llymphoblastic
- T-cell lymphoma
Intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas include:
- Large cell follicular
- Mixed cell diffuse
- Large cell diffuse
- Immunoblastic diffuse
Low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas include:
- Small lymphocytic
- Small cleaved cell follicular
- Mixed follicular
- Small cleaved cell diffuse
- Intermediately differentiated diffuse
- Cutaneous T-cell
Other Types of Lymphoma Include:
- Orbital lymphoma (eye involvement)
- Primary central nervous system lymphoma
- Gastrointestinal lymphoma
- Lymphoma of the breast
- MALT lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Mycosis fungoides - Sezary syndrome
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Stages of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
Stage I
Stage I (stage 1) There is one cancer site. No bone marrow involvement.
Stage II
Stage II (stage 2) There are two sites-either above or below the diaphragm (the thin muscle under the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen). No bone marrow involvement.
Stage III
Stage III (stage 3) There are sites above and below the diaphragm. No bone marrow involvement.
Stage IV
Stage IV (stage 4) There is bone marrow involvement or the cancer cells have spread outside the lymphatic system, such as to the liver.
Grades of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
Grade indicates how the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow and spread.
- Aggressive lymphoma, also known as intermediate and high-grade
lymphoma, tends to grow and spread quickly and cause severe
symptoms.
- Indolent lymphoma, also called low-grade lymphoma, tends to grow quite slowly and cause fewer symptoms.
