Lymphoma Flashcards
What is lymphoma?
Malignancies of the lymphoid system and hence may arise at any site where lymphoid tissue is present
How can lymphoma be categorised?
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
* Hodgkins lymphoma
What are the B symptoms of lymphomas?
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
Which is the more common lymphoma?
Non-hodgkins lymphoma
What differentiates hodgkins lymphoma vs non-hodgkins lymphoma?
*Hodgkins lymphoma has the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells
What is the presentation of lymphoma?
- Painless lymphadenopathy (Non-tender, rubbery, asymmetrical)
- B symptoms: fever, weight loss, night sweats, lethargy
- Extranodal disease: gastric symptoms, bone marrow, lungs, skin, CNS
What are the investigations done in suspected lymphoma?
- Excisional node biopsy
- CT chest, abdo and pelvis (staging)
- HIV test (risk factors for non-hodgkins)
- FBC and blood films
- ESR
- LDH (marker of cell turnover)
What is stage 1 of non-hodgkins lymphoma?
One node affected
What is stage 2 of lymphoma?
More than one node affected on same side of diaphragm
What is stage 3 of lymphoma?
One node affected on either side of the diaphragm
What is stage 4 of lymphoma?
Extra nodal involvement e.g. spleen, bone marrow or CNS
What is the staging system for lymphoma called?
Ann Arbor System
What is the management of non-hodgkins lymphoma?
- Specific depends of sub-type but chemo and radiotherapy
* Patients with neutropenia may require antibiotic prophylaxis
What are the potential compilcations of lymphoma?
- Bone marrow infiltraion causing anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia
- SVCO
- Metastasis
- Spinal cord compression
