Lymphoma Introduction
Lymphoma is one of the common malignant tumors in China. Lymphoma is divided into Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The incidence rate is gradually increasing in recent years, accounting for the 9th place of all malignant tumors in China, and the incidence rate is higher in urban than in rural areas. The incidence is higher in males.
Causes of morbidity
There are many possible causes of lymphoma. Most studies suggest that it is related to the following factors.
1. viruses and bacteria. EBV, human T-lymphotropic virus-1, HCV, cytomegalovirus and herpes virus are associated with the development of lymphoma.
2. Immunodeficiency diseases. Studies have concluded that patients with congenital immunodeficiency have a high incidence of lymphoma. Organ transplantation and AIDS are often associated with immunodeficiency, which increases the risk of lymphoma development. Diseases treated with long-term immunosuppressive therapy such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and dry syndrome can be complicated by lymphoma.
3.The effect of environmental pollution. Pollution of air, water and food can increase the chance of lymphoma.
4.Influence of bad lifestyle. Excessive intake of animal protein, fat, milk, reduced exercise, improper life and living, long-term mental tension, etc.
5.Hereditary factors. Lymphoma occurs in clusters among family members.
6.Other factors. Improper blood transfusion can increase the risk of developing lymphoma by 2 times. Smoking and obesity may increase the risk of disease.
Clinical manifestations
The most common manifestation of lymphoma is rapid, painless enlargement of the lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, followed by the axillae and groin. In advanced stages, the lymph nodes may fuse with each other to form a mass, with symptoms of pressure, such as pain and swelling. Lymphoma can also occur anywhere in the body: spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, skin, brain, bones and bone marrow. The clinical symptoms vary from organ to organ. They may be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, night sweats, malaise and weight loss, and in a small number of patients, pruritus of the skin.
Pathological diagnosis
Pathologic diagnosis is very important and is the qualitative diagnosis of lymphoma. It is best to take intact lymph nodes for examination. If there is difficulty, puncture biopsy of tumor tissue is feasible, but the diagnostic rate is slightly decreased. The pathological classification of lymphoma is very complex and can be divided into dozens of types at present, so the pathological diagnosis of lymphoma is one of the most complicated among all tumor pathological diagnoses. It requires multiple examinations such as morphology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, molecular genetics, etc. simultaneously, and also combined with the patient’s clinical manifestations, such as symptoms and imaging examinations, to make a comprehensive judgment.
Ancillary tests
Laboratory tests for lymphoma mainly include blood routine, blood biochemistry, tumor markers and other tests, which are important for prognosis judgment, general condition of the patient, drug regimen and dosage, etc.
Imaging examinations of lymphoma are also important. The latest PET/CT examination provides a more accurate basis for determining the extent of lymphoma lesions and can detect lesions that cannot be detected by traditional methods, making the treatment more accurate as well.
Treatment methods
The treatment of lymphoma is a combination of chemotherapy, biologic targeted therapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In a few cases, surgery can be combined with treatment. Lymphoma is a malignant tumor that can be cured. About 50% of patients can be cured through professional treatment, and the cure rate of early stage patients can reach 80%. Even for patients with advanced stage, long-term cure is possible with scientific and reasonable comprehensive treatment.
However, due to the complexity and diversity of lymphoma classification and treatment methods, the treatment is also more complicated and has now formed a separate discipline. For example, chemotherapy regimens and drug doses differ for different types of lymphoma, treatment procedures and protocols vary greatly between early-stage and mid- to late-stage patients, whether bioimmunotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be done, and when these treatments should be performed also depend on different conditions, and the timing of treatment is a key factor in determining the success or failure of treatment. Once a patient is diagnosed with lymphoma, he or she should immediately visit a lymphoma specialist in order to have the best chance of cure.
In conclusion, lymphoma is a curable tumor, especially early stage lymphoma, and scientific and reasonable comprehensive treatment is the key to cure, and specialized treatment is the guarantee for these effective diagnosis and treatment. Avoiding the possible causative factors of lymphoma and regular professional medical checkups are effective measures for early prevention and treatment of lymphoma.