47 - Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Question 1

What will appear in a biopsy of Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Answer 1

Reed Sternberg cells

Question 2

What are the disease characteristics of Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Answer 2

• Contiguous lymph node spread (spreading to neighboring lymph nodes)
• High cure rates with treatment
• Significant morbidity and mortality associated with treatment however
• “B-symptoms” have worse prognosis (fever, night sweats, weight loss)

Question 3

What are the disease characteristics of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Answer 3

• Diverse group of malignancies from indolent (slow, harmless) to aggressive
• More non-contiguous spread compared to Hodgkin lymphoma (body wide spread)
• Cases with “B symptoms”
  have a worse prognosis (fever, night sweats, weight loss)

Question 4

How do you treat Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Answer 4

It really depends on the type of lymphoma

• If it is indolent (slow growing, no symptoms), just observe the progression, no treatment
• If they have MALT lymphoma, you can treat the H. pylori in the early stages of the disease and it will improve, if not resolve