lymphoma
[lim-fo´mah] any neoplastic disorder of lymphoid tissue, including
hodgkin's disease. Often used to denote
malignant lymphoma, classifications of which are based on predominant cell type and degree of differentiation; various categories may be subdivided into nodular and diffuse types depending on the predominant pattern of cell arrangement.
B-cell l's a heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies including most
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, representing clonal expansions of malignant
B lymphocytes that have been arrested at a particular stage in their differentiation from primitive stem cells. B-cell lymphoma usually appears as a painless lymph node enlargement, although extranodal sites of origin are not uncommon. These lymphomas have been classified on the basis of morphologic features characteristic of the different stages of normal B lymphocyte differentiation.
lymphoma cu´tis primary skin involvement by a B-cell lymphoma without demonstrable systemic disease.
diffuse lymphoma malignant lymphoma in which the neoplastic cells infiltrate the entire lymph node without any organized pattern.
follicular lymphoma malignant lymphoma in which the lymphomatous cells are clustered into identifiable nodules within the lymph nodes that somewhat resemble the germinal centers of
lymphatic nodules. Follicular lymphomas usually occur in older persons and commonly involve many or all nodes as well as extranodal sites. Called also
nodular lymphoma.
follicular center cell lymphoma any of a large group of
B-cell lymphomas, comprising four subtypes classified on the basis of the predominant cell type (resembling small cleaved, large cleaved, small noncleaved, and large noncleaved follicular center
cells). Because of the wide variety of prognostic levels and the existence of tumors with several types of cells, the original four categories have now been divided up and scattered among several new categories of
follicular and
diffuse lymphomas.
histiocytic lymphoma a rare type of
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of intermediate to high malignancy, characterized by large tumor cells that resemble
histiocytes morphologically but are considered to be of lymphoid origin. Many tumors formerly placed in this category are now considered to belong in one of the
large cell lymphoma groups.
large cell lymphoma any of several types of lymphoma characterized by formation of malignant large lymphocytes in a diffuse pattern; some varieties contain exclusively one type of cell, such as lymphoblasts or cleaved or uncleaved follicular center cells, and others have a mixture of cells, sometimes including ones that cannot be characterized as to lineage.
Lennert's lymphoma a type of
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a high content of epithelioid
histiocytes; bone marrow involvement is common and response to
chemotherapy is often poor.
lymphoblastic lymphoma a highly malignant type of
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma composed of a diffuse, relatively uniform proliferation of cells with round or convoluted nuclei and scanty cytoplasm, which are cytologically similar to the lymphoblasts seen in
acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
malignant lymphoma a group of malignant neoplasms characterized by the proliferation of cells native to the
lymphoid tissues, i.e.,
lymphocytes,
histiocytes, and their precursors and derivatives. The group is divided into two major categories:
hodgkin's disease and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
mixed lymphocytic-histiocytic lymphoma non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by a mixed population of cells, with the smaller cells resembling
lymphocytes and the larger ones
histiocytes, usually occurring in a nodular histologic pattern but sometimes evolving into a diffuse pattern.
non-Hodgkin's l's a heterogeneous group of
malignant lymphomas whose common feature is absence of the giant Reed-Sternberg
cells characteristic of
hodgkin's disease. They arise from the lymphoid components of the immune system, and present a clinical picture broadly similar to that of
Hodgkin's disease except that these diseases are initially more widespread, with the most common manifestation being painless enlargement of one or more peripheral lymph nodes. The nomenclature and classification of these lymphomas has been a subject of controversy. One widely accepted classification is based on two criteria: cytologic characteristics of the constituent cells and type of cell growth pattern (defined as either nodular [follicular] or diffuse). Another system of classification is based on the cell type of origin:
T- or
B-lymphocytes or
histiocytes. Still another formulation has been proposed, separating non-Hodgkin's lymphomas into major histopathologic subtypes using only morphologic criteria.
Diagnostic procedures used to confirm suspected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include PET scans, gallium scans, and occasionally
lymphangiograms. If lymphoma is diagnosed, it will be staged using the same system as for
Hodgkin's disease.
Treatment will depend on the type and stage. It may be single agent or multiagent
chemotherapy,
radiation therapy,
biotherapy, or a combination. Blood transfusions and
bone marrow transplantation have shown efficacy for some types of lymphoma.
Patient care: major problems presented by the patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include the management of side effects associated with treatment and the prevention of infection.
small lymphocytic lymphoma a diffuse form of
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a low grade of malignancy; it represents the neoplastic proliferation of well-differentiated
B lymphocytes and may present with either focal lymph node enlargement or generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The predominant cell type is a compact, small, normal-appearing lymphocyte with a dark-staining round nucleus, scanty cytoplasm, and little size variation. It nearly always involves the bone marrow, and often malignant cells are found in the blood, so that its clinical picture is similar to that of
chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Called also
well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma.
T-cell l's a heterogeneous group of lymphoid tumors representing malignant transformation of the
T lymphocytes. Types include convoluted T-cell lymphomas, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas,
adult T-cell leukemia, and certain other conditions.
undifferentiated lymphoma malignant lymphoma composed of undifferentiated cells, i.e., cells that do not show morphologic evidence of maturation toward lymphocytes or histiocytes, which vary in size and may include bizarre giant forms.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
Patient discussion about lymphoma
Q. I would like to chat with someone w/any knowledge of fibromyalgia being treated with Methadone my best friend has severe fibromyalgia and has been treated with Methadone for the past several years. She has developed severe chronic anemia in these years. She now has lymphoma. I want to know if she is the only one and if methadone can affect bone marrow.
A. I have never ever heard or read anywhere about methadone causing anemia, nor is that something that an opiate medication would normally cause. We all have a tendency to blame everything that happens to us, health-wise, on methadone sometimes--but in this case, you probably need to look elsewhere for the cause.
the Anemia is probably due to the Lymphoma. if not-her life is out of balance, she might changed her diet and may have shortage of iron or B12.
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