User:Mr. Ibrahem/Lymphoma
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).[7] The name often refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours.[7] Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, and constantly feeling tired.[1][2] The enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless.[1] The sweats are most common at night.[1][2]
Lymphoma | |
---|---|
Follicular lymphoma replacing a lymph node | |
Specialty | Hematology and oncology |
Symptoms | Enlarged lymph nodes, fever, sweats, unintended weight loss, itching, feeling tired[1][2] |
Risk factors | Epstein–Barr virus, autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, tobacco smoking[2][3] |
Diagnostic method | Lymph node biopsy[1][2] |
Treatment | Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, surgery[1][2] |
Prognosis | Average five year survival 85% (USA)[4] |
Frequency | 4.9 million (2015)[5] |
Deaths | 204,700 (2015)[6] |
There are many subtypes of lymphomas.[8] The two main categories of lymphomas are the non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) (90% of cases) and Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) (10%).[9] The World Health Organization (WHO) includes two other categories as types of lymphoma: multiple myeloma and immunoproliferative diseases.[10] About 90% of lymphomas are non-Hodgkin lymphomas.[9][11] Lymphomas and leukemias are a part of the broader group of tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues.[12]
Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include infection with Epstein–Barr virus and a history of the disease in the family.[1] Risk factors for common types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas include autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, infection with human T-lymphotropic virus, immunosuppressant medications, and some pesticides.[2][13] Eating large amounts of red meat and tobacco smoking may also increase the risk.[3][14][15] Diagnosis, if enlarged lymph nodes are present, is usually by lymph node biopsy.[1][2] Blood, urine, and bone marrow testing may also be useful in the diagnosis.[2] Medical imaging may then be done to determine if and where the cancer has spread.[1][2] Lymphoma most often spreads to the lungs, liver, and brain.[1][2]
Treatment may involve one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgery.[1][2] In some non-Hodgkin lymphomas, an increased amount of protein produced by the lymphoma cells causes the blood to become so thick that plasmapheresis is performed to remove the protein.[2] Watchful waiting may be appropriate for certain types.[2] The outcome depends on the subtype with some being curable and treatment prolonging survival in most.[9] The five-year survival rate in the United States for all Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes is 85%,[4] while that for non-Hodgkin lymphomas is 69%.[16] Worldwide, lymphomas developed in 566,000 people in 2012 and caused 305,000 deaths.[10] They make up 3–4% of all cancers, making them as a group the seventh-most common form.[10][17] In children, they are the third-most common cancer.[18] They occur more often in the developed world than the developing world.[10]