Spleen lymphoma is a dangerous oncological disease. Such a diagnosis indicates the appearance of a tumor in the tissues of the spleen. The occurrence of this pathology is considered rare. The hallmarks of this disease are the slow pace of development and the complexity of treatment, which is explained by the absence of symptoms in the early stages of the disease. What you need to know about this disease and can you get rid of it forever?
Lymphoma definition
The medical term “lymphoma” is commonly understood as a serious disease in which pathological processes occur in the organs of the lymphatic system (lymph nodes, spleen). To understand the essence of the disease, one should study in more detail the work of this system of the human body.
The lymphatic system is represented by lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and the spleen. These organs produce and transport lymph (a colorless liquid) throughout the body.
This system plays an extremely important role.
- Barrier. With the flow of lymph from the organspathogenic bacteria, viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms that have entered the human body are removed.
- Nutritious. Useful substances that are absorbed in the intestines are distributed by lymph to all organs and tissues.
- Immune. Pathogenic microorganisms from the outside are quickly eliminated by lymphocytes and excreted from the body.
Lymphoma is said to be when an accumulation of modified lymphatic cells appears in the organs of the lymphatic system. They rapidly divide and cease to perform their tasks, as a result of which the entire organism fails.
Types of spleen lymphoma
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish between several types of this disease. Among them are the following forms:
- follicular;
- B-cell;
- T-cell;
- diffuse large cell.
Differentiate the disease based on the cells involved in the pathological process.
In 1994, scientists introduced another term “lymphoma of the marginal zone of the spleen”. To understand the meaning of this form of the disease, one should study the structure of the organ in more detail.
70-80% of the spleen consists of red pulp - its basis is a special connective tissue, veins and other anatomical structures. The remaining 20-30% of the spleen is white pulp. It contains a large number of lymphocytes. The space separating these departments is called the marginal zone. If cancer cells affect this area, the disease is referred to as marginal splenic lymphoma.
Reasonsdisease progression
Research in this area is given special attention. Despite this, the exact causes of the development of lymphomas have not yet been identified. At the same time, there is a theory according to which oncological diseases of the spleen occur as a result of a sharp weakening of the immune system.
Quite often, patients with spleen lymphoma develop against the background of the following pathologies:
- Epstein-Barr virus;
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
- hepatitis.
In some cases, lymphoma of the lymphatic system acts as a secondary cancer. In other words, these are metastases of tumors of other organs.
Symptoms
The main danger of this type of cancer is the lack of symptoms at an early stage. A person can live for several years without being aware of a serious illness. Among the first symptoms of spleen lymphoma are:
- fatigue;
- decrease in performance;
- excessive body sweating;
- state of apathy and depression;
- general weakness.
People don't usually pay much attention to such symptoms. These conditions are associated with an accelerated pace of life, lack of vitamins, and frequent stress.
With the further development of the disease, there are:
- feeling of heaviness in the stomach and intestines;
- possible stool disorders;
- increased body temperature;
- sleep disorders (drowsiness or insomnia);
- constant irritability;
- absenceappetite;
- drastic weight loss.
Lab tests for diagnosis
During the initial visit to the clinic, the doctor examines the patient's complaints and conducts an examination. During it, attention is paid to the lymph nodes and the general condition of the patient. At the same time, the doctor without fail gives a referral for a general blood test.
Among important indicators:
- hemoglobin - its level should be in the range of 120-160 g/l;
- leukocytes - the normal content ranges from 4 thousand/µl to 9 thousand/µl;
- platelets - the allowable amount is 180-320 thousand/µl.
An increased level of leukocytes and a decrease in other indicators indicate pathological changes in the body. However, a diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of blood tests alone. Hardware research required.
Ultrasound to detect cancer
Ultrasound for spleen lymphoma is considered one of the most informative diagnostic methods. With its help, doctors receive data on the condition of the spleen, its size, the presence or absence of a tumor in it.
The advantage is that pathology can be detected even when the neoplasm is small. In addition, if there are metastases to other organs, they will be detected. If a pathology is detected, the patient is prescribed additional tests.
CT and MRI
If a tumor is suspected, the patient is prescribed computed and magnetic resonance imaging. Thanks to these hardware studies, it is possible to obtaina three-dimensional picture of the spleen and the tumor inside it (if any). At the same time, doctors receive data on the exact location of the neoplasm, its size and shape. These indicators will be extremely important for further treatment (including surgical).
During CT and MRI, all metastases in the human body, located in soft and bone tissues, are detected.
Biopsy
The most accurate diagnosis can be obtained after a biopsy. This term refers to the procedure for extracting a sample of tumor tissue. It is carried out with a long thin needle.
After the tissues are removed, they are sent to the laboratory for histological examination. According to the result of the diagnosis, the nature of the tumor (whether it is malignant) and its type are revealed.
Basic principles of treatment
For each case, methods and methods of treatment are chosen individually. In this case, the doctor must take into account the following features:
- a form of lymphoma;
- disease stage;
- age of patient;
- comorbidities.
In most cases, the focus is on complex therapy, which may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Observation
Active treatment of splenic lymphoma is not always required. So, when a tumor of the marginal zone is detected, oncologists recommend constant monitoring. This is explained by the slow development of the neoplasm and the absence of pronounced symptoms.
In casethe degeneration of this form of the tumor into an aggressive one, they begin treatment with the use of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The main requirement when choosing such a position is strict adherence to the recommendations of the oncologist and regular passage of diagnostic procedures.
Surgery
This approach refers to radical methods of therapy. Despite the development of medicine and the development of many ways to treat cancer, surgery remains the most effective. The procedure for removing the spleen is called a splenectomy.
The essence of it is to remove the spleen with the tumor located in it. Nearby soft tissues may also be excised. This is necessary if the tumor has already gone beyond the organ and spread to neighboring tissues.
Complete removal of the organ blocks the further development of the disease. In this case, an important requirement is the elimination of all pathological cells. The presence of even a small focus of the tumor increases the risk of relapse (re-development of the disease).
Most often, surgery is combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of spleen lymphoma with drugs. This method is often combined with surgery to consolidate the effect and reduce the risk of relapse. The principle of operation of these medicines is to destroy the structure of pathological cells. As a result, cancer cells lose their ability to divide.
Medicines suitable for the patient are selected by the doctor. They aremay be in the form of tablets or solution for intravenous administration. Recently, new generation drugs with minimal side effects have gained wide popularity. However, they give a high percentage of cure.
Forecast
This diagnosis is a cancerous disease, therefore, with spleen lymphoma, doctors try to refrain from predicting treatment. Each case has certain characteristics.
Maximum chances for a complete cure are those patients whose oncology was detected in the early stages. Here, the survival rate of patients reaches 90%. It is for this reason that early diagnosis of splenic lymphoma is important.
Another important factor in predicting - the form of the disease. Patients who have a tumor of the marginal zone have the maximum chance for a cure. It has the least aggressiveness and slow pace of development.
