Lymphomas & Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Flashcards
What are lymphomas?
malignant neoplasms of cells native to lymphoid tissue/nodes and most often of B-cell origin
What are the two primary forms of lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
what are general features of all lymphomas?
either NO symptoms OR any combo of:
- lymphadenopathy (silent)
- high WBC count
- infection
- weight loss
- fever
- malaise
Describe the clinical presentation of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
- lymphadenopathy (without tenderness/pain)
- potential spread from single node to others (non-contiguous), or to non-nodal tissue (spleen, liver, bone marrow)
- potential to “spill” into blood
What are characteristics of healthy lymph nodes?
Mobile, soft, nontender and less than 1 cm
What method is used to classify all types of lymphomas?
Revised European-American Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms (REAL)
What are examples of adult forms of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?
Follicular lymphoma
Small lymphocytic lymphoma
Large B-Cell lymphoma
What form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can potentially progress to Large B-Cell Lymphoma?
Follicular lymphoma
What will be the histological presentation of the lymph nodes of a patient with follicular lymphoma?
Nodular (follicular) lymph nodes
What is the most aggressive and rapidly fatal form of adult Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)?
Large B-Cell lymphoma
What will be the histological presentation of the lymph nodes of a patient with Large B-Cell Lymphoma?
Diffuse lymph nodes
What form of adult Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) involves rapid metastasis to the brain, bone, and GI?
Large B-Cell lymphoma
What is the primary way to differentiate between small lymphocytic lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia upon palpation?
Small lymphocytic lymphoma = Nodal origin with lump present
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia = Bone pains, marrow origin
What are examples of childhood Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma’s (NHL)?
Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma
Burkitt’s lymphoma
Where is a mass most common in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
Mediastinum
What is the histological presentation indicative of any childhood Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Starry Sky due to macrophages present
what is the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic lymphoma?
aggressive and rapidly progressive
Male patient. 11 years of age. Presents with chronic dry cough; loss of appetite, and achy pain in the left substernal region. Biopsy of the mediastinal lymph nodes shows the presence of macrophages giving a “Starry” appearance to the slide. What is a likely diagnosis?
Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma
Male patient. 30 years of age. Presents with swollen, non-tender cervical lymph nodes, fever, and malaise. Since the lymph nodes are not mobile upon palpation, a biopsy of the tissue is taken. Biopsy shows nodular growths throughout the lymph nodes. What is a likely diagnosis?
Follicular lymphoma
Male patient. 37 years of age. Presents with systemic infections, high-grade fever, and a WBC count of 80,000. The patient reports of constipation and headaches for the last three days. Upon inspection, lymphadenopathy is present in the axillary and deep cervical lymph nodes. The nodes are not tender and measure 2 cm. A biopsy of the nodes is taken. Biopsy shows diffuse growth of lymph nodes in both the cervical and axillary regions. What is a likely diagnosis?
Large B-cell lymphoma
What nationality is Burkitt’s lymphoma endemic to?
African
What nodal area is primarily affected in a patient with Burkitt’s lymphoma?
Maxilla/Mandible
What virus is associated with the African form of Burkitt’s lymphoma?
Epstein-Barr Virus (HHV-4)
Epstein-Barr virus is associated with the sporadic form of Burkitt’s lymphoma (TRUE/FALSE)?
FALSE
What form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) can present with craniofascial defects?
Burkitt’s lymphoma
what is the prognosis of Burkitt’s lymphoma?
responds well to chemo
What is the most common malignancy in young adults?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What special lymphocyte is present in most cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Reed-Sternberg (RS) cell
What are the histological characteristics of the Reed-Sternburg cell?
- large cells (possibly B or T cell origin)
- Bilobed/Binucleated
- “Owl-Eyes” appearance
What are the main characteristics that differentiate Hodgkin’s lymphoma from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s is predictable and contiguous (adjacent) spread of lymph nodes