LYMPHOMA

Question 1

what is a lymphoma

Answer 1

a cancerous tumor found in peripheral lymph tissue

Question 2

how is lymphoma divided/categorized

what do they both share in terms of involvement of tissues

Answer 2

Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkins

both: bone marrow involvement as well as the undisciplined growth of lymphoid tissue and lymph nodes

Question 3

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is characterized by

where does the cancer begin?
how does it spread?

Answer 3

the presence of atypical, sizeable mononuclear tumor cells which arise from a postgerminal B cell called Reed-Sternberg cells

begins unicentrically in a lymph node and spreads to contiguous lymph nodes

Question 4

non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma begins in

spreads to

Answer 4

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are a group of heterogenous cancers which arise multicentrically from B and T lymphocytes and spread to other tissues in the body such as the bone marrow.

Question 5

Etiology of Hodgkin’s

Answer 5

viral (Eppstein Barr virus?)
genetic
immune

Question 6

who does Hodgkin’s occur in

Answer 6

It occurs most commonly between the ages of 15 and 40 and also in people age 55 and older.

Question 7

patho of Hodgkin’s

Answer 7

Hodgkin’s lymphoma begins unicentrically in one lymph node.
The tumors tend to be heterogenous and the malignant Reed-Sternberg cell may make up only a small portion of the tumor itself. The spread is contiguous to adjacent lymph nodes

Question 8

mnfts of Hodgkin’s

B symptoms or no?

Answer 8

• non painful lymphadeonpathy on one side of the neck most commonly occurs in
  
  • cervical
  • supraclavicular
  • mediastinal nodes
• pruritus
• intermittent fevers w associated night sweats

also will have impaired cellular immunity

B symptoms (found in more severe cases, good for prognosis, found in 40% of cases)

• drenching night sweats
• weight loss of more than 10% of body weight
• fever without chills

Question 9

Dx of Hodgkins

Answer 9

presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in biopsy

Question 10

Tx of Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Answer 10

depends on stage

• combo therapy
• chemo
• sometimes radiation

Question 11

et of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Answer 11

unclear
incidence inc w age

infectious agents, 
prior cancer treatment, 
prior organ transplant, 
exposure to certain chemical agents such as pesticides, dyes, solvents, defoliants such as Agent Orange, and an 
impaired immune system may be implicated

Question 12

what does non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma arise from

which is more common

Answer 12

B and T cells

B cell lymphomas are more common

spread of the malignancies is erratic and may involve multiple lymph nodes or even spread into other tissues

Question 13

mnfts of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Answer 13

variable as the course of the disease varies

lymphadenopathy is most common

may be asymptomatic

1/3 have B symptoms

Question 14

Tx of non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Answer 14

depends on classification, stage, status of pt, hx of Tx
in order of light tx to heavy
-radiation
-interferons and chemo

even the most aggressive forms of non Hodgkins are curable when Tx is aggressive