Introduction
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Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer in the U.S.
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Lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells that arises in the lymphatic system.
Types of Lymphoma
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Hodgkin's lymphoma frequently develops from B-cells, but may also develop from T-cells.
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The majority of lymphoma cases are non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Risk Factors
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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in developed regions of the world and in men.
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Infection with the Epstein Barr virus and other such viruses increases the risk of developing lymphoma.
Symptoms
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Swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, fever, extreme night sweats, and severe "itchiness".
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Symptoms vary with the location in which the cancer arises.
Detection and Diagnosis
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Lymphatic tumors may be detected by an MRI, a bone scan, a CT scan, or a PET scan.
Pathology Report and Staging
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A pathologist examines a tissue sample micro- and macroscopically in order to create a pathology report.
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The Ann Arbor staging system is commonly used to categorize non-Hodgkin lymphoma into one of four stages.
Lymphoma Tumor Biology
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Many genetic changes occur in cancer. Details can be found in the Mutation section.
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BCL-6, p53, and HDM2 are all genes involved in the development of lymphoma.
Treatment
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Specific treatment plans for lymphoma depend on the type and stage of disease.
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, or targeted treatments.
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Hodgkin's disease is treated with chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplantation.
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