Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a group of neoplastic diseases of lymphoid tissue, which includes lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and the thymus gland. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of lymphatic system cells and an increase in the number of pathological lymphocytes.
The modern classification divides lymphomas into two groups:
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (lymphogranulomatosis): a cancerous neoplasm where giant malignant cells of Reed-Berezovsky-Sternberg are found. The source of the lymphoma is the cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Hodgkin’s lymphoma more commonly affects men.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas: The most commonly encountered tumors (accounting for more than 60% of cases).
Lymphoma affects people of all ages. According to statistics, this pathology is the most common among all cancers in patients under 30 years old. In most young individuals, lymphoma has an aggressive course. The most highly aggressive form is Burkitt’s lymphoma, which can lead to death within just a few weeks.
Symptoms indicating the need for diagnosis and treatment
The patient or their relatives usually notice the pathology when three main signs are present:
- night sweats
- rapid weight loss (against the backdrop of poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting)
- a fever rising up to 38°c
Other general signs of lymphoma include:
- enlargement of lymph nodes (either singly or in clusters)
- asthenic syndrome (fatigue, weakness, exhaustion)
- pain in various locations (head, back, chest, abdomen)
- skin itching (both in the area of the affected lymph nodes and in other areas): this is more commonly observed in hodgkin’s lymphoma, with about one-third of patients reporting this symptom.
Specific symptoms include:
- cough (when lymphoma is located in the chest), painful sensations in the chest, shortness of breath, and the sensation of incomplete inhalation.
- swelling (the location depends on the affected lymph nodes).
Diagnostic and treatment methods
Diagnosis
Advanced technologies in European clinics allow for the early diagnosis of lymphoma, significantly improving patient prognosis. Among the most informative diagnostic methods are:
- Blood tests with a leukocyte formula and immunoglobulin levels
- High-resolution chest X-ray in two projections
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Lymph node biopsy (for patients with classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, trephine biopsy—obtaining a histological sample of bone marrow—is recommended)
- Bone scintigraphy
Treatment
The treatment of lymphoma at an early stage typically involves a combination of conservative methods, including targeted chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Hodgkin’s lymphoma progresses more slowly compared to non-Hodgkin’s forms, providing more time to use non-surgical approaches.
Highly qualified hemato-oncologists in leading clinics worldwide emphasize the necessity of CAR-T therapy — autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation — in cases of active disease progression or early relapse (within one year of initial treatment).
Innovations in global clinics
A new medication for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been successfully tested, significantly improving relapse-free survival rates. This medication belongs to the category of biological therapies, containing antibodies against the CD30 protein, and is specifically designed for targeted therapy.
