Presentation of lymphomas
by Carol S. Portlock, MD, Professor of clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell University Medical College; Attending Physician, Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Lymphomas are lymphocyte cancers, which reside in the lymphatic system and in the organs that produce the blood.
Lymphomas are cancers that affect a certain type of white blood cells, lymphocytes. These cells help to fight infections. Lymphomas can develop in B or T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes play a major role in the regulation of the immune system and in the fight against viral infections. B lymphocytes produce antibodies.
Lymphocytes are transported in all parts of the organism through the bloodstream and through a network of tubular canals called lymphatic vessels (lymphatic system: contributes to the defense against infections). The lymph nodes are scattered in this network of lymphatic vessels and contain clusters of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes that become cancerous (lymphoma cells) can remain confined to the level of a single lymph node or invade the bone marrow, spleen or any other organ.
Lymphoma lymphoma
There are two main types of lymphomas:
Hodgkin's lymphoma (formerly known as Hodgkin's disease)
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are more common than Hodgkin's disease. Burkitt lymphoma and fungoides fungus are subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
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