Lymphoma

Question 1

what is a lymphoma?

Answer 1

clonal proliferation of lymphocytes arising in a lymph node or associated tissue

Question 2

what are the 2 types of lymphoma?

Answer 2

hodgkin lymphoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma

Question 3

which type of lymphoma is more common?

Answer 3

non-hodgkin

Question 4

what are the symptoms of lymphoma?

Answer 4

fever, swelling of face and neck, lump in neck/armpits/groin, excessive sweating at night, unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite, breathlessness, feeling of weakness

Question 5

what does the staging of lymphoma require?

Answer 5

CT/PET/MRI

Question 6

what does staging assess?

Answer 6

number of nodes involved and site, extra-nodal involvement and systemic symptoms

Question 7

what is stage 1 of lymphoma?

Answer 7

single lymph node region

Question 8

what is stage 2 of lymphoma?

Answer 8

two or more sites on same side of diagram

Question 9

what is stage 3 of lymphoma?

Answer 9

both sides of diaphragm or spleen

Question 10

what is stage 4 of lymphoma?

Answer 10

diffuse involvement of extralymphatic sites and nodal disease

Question 11

what is the clinical presentation of hodgkin lymphoma?

Answer 11

painless lymphadenopathy, fever, night sweats, weight loss, itching, infection

Question 12

what is the aetiology of non-hodgkin lymphoma?

Answer 12

microbial factors (EBV, HIV), autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), immunosuppression (post-transplant)

Question 13

what is the presentation of NHL?

Answer 13

lymphadenopathy, extra-nodal disease, symptoms of marrow failure, constitutional symptoms less common (fever)

Question 14

what is the prognosis of NHL?

Answer 14

> 50% will relapse after treatment, poor prognosis if untreated

Question 15

what is a multiple myeloma?

Answer 15

malignant proliferation of plasma cells

Question 16

what are the features of multiple myeloma?

Answer 16

monoclonal paraprotein in blood and urine, lytic bone lesions causing pain and fracture, excess plasma cells in bone marrow causing marrow failure

Question 17

what are the signs of multiple myeloma?

Answer 17

infection, bone pain, renal failure and amyloidosis

Question 18

what is used to treat haematological malignancies?

Answer 18

chemotherapy, radiotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, haemopoietic stem cell transplantation

Question 19

what are the concepts of treating haematological malignancy?

Answer 19

induction, remission, maintenance and consolidation, relapse

Question 20

what sort of supportive therapy is used for the treatment of haematological malignancies?

Answer 20

nutrition, psychological and social support, prevention and treatment of infection, managing symptoms of therapy side effects, correcting marked blood component deficits, pain control

Question 21

what cells does chemotherapy target?

Answer 21

cells with high turnover rate

Question 22

what are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Answer 22

hair loss, nausea and vomiting, tiredness

Question 23

what is radiotherapy?

Answer 23

cytotoxic effect of ionising radiation

Question 24

what are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 24

antibodies produced to specific cancer cell antigens

Question 25

what is the main goals of targeted treatments?

Answer 25

use of CD antigens on white cells, target interleukin messaging, target growth factors

Question 26

what does allogenic mean?

Answer 26

stem cells from a LIVE donor

Question 27

what does autologous mean?

Answer 27

stem cells from the patient

Question 28

what does stem cell transplant require?

Answer 28

total body irradiation (eradicate malignant cells and host marrow)

Question 29

where do the stem cells for stem cell transplant come from?

Answer 29

blood rather than bone marrow