LYMPHOMA Flashcards
what is lymphoma?
Lymphomas are a group of cancers that affect lymphocytes inside lymph nodes
Cancer cells proliferate in the lymph nodes causing them to become abnormally large
types of lymphoma and which is more curable
Hodgkins lymphoma= very curable
Non hodgkins lymphoma
staging of lymphoma?
Ann arbor staging
what is the criteria for stages 1-4 in the Ann Arbor staging of lymphoma?
1- Only one lymph node involved
2- two or more lymph nodes on one side of diaphragm
3- nodes on either side of diaphragm (above and below)
4- spread beyond the lymph nodes
what are the A and B symptoms of lymphoma?
A SYMPTOMS
-No systemic symptoms other than pruiritis
B SYMPTOMS
-weight loss (>10% in past 6 months)
-Fever (>38 degrees)
-Night sweats (drenching)
B symptoms= poor prognosis
what is seen on bloods lymphoma?
-Lymphocytosis (increase lymphocyte count)
what investigation done for lymphoma?
Excision lymph node biopsy= gold standard
Blood film
MUST DO IMMUNOPHENOTYPING- TO DETERMINE LINEAGE
(leucocytosis could be CLL)
Treatment of both HL and NHL?
Multi agent chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy
Emergency= steroids
-compression on SVC, spinal cord, renal tract, respiratory tract ect
what is the problem with giving steroids ?
Giving steroids can mess with the biopsy and cellular architecture
-but would just do it anyways in emergency
Risks factors- Hodgkins lymphoma?
-20s
-EBV
-Immunosuppression e.g. HIV
-Autoimmune disorders
-FH
symptoms specific to hodgkins lymphoma?
specific= lymph nodes becoming painful with drinking alocohol
FOR BOTH HL + NHL:
A symptoms= itch with no rash
B symptoms= weight loss, fever, night sweats
what is seen on blood film- hodgkins?
Reed Sternberg cells
-look like owl
what can bleomycin cause? (used in multiagent chemo +/- radiotherapy for treatment of HL)
penumonitis
what can be seen on lymph node biopsy of HL?
nodular sclerosing
what can NHL be split into and what type is more agressive?
B cell (90%)
T cell (10%)- more agressive, doesnt respond well to chemo