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Table of Contents General Information About Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Stages of Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Recurrent Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Treatment Option Overview
Treatment Options for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
To Learn More About Adult Non-Hodgkin
Lymphoma
Get More Information From NCI
Changes to This Summary (05/06/2008)
About PDQ
General Information About Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease in which malignant
(cancer) cells form in the lymph system.
The lymph system is
part of the immune system and is
made up of the following:
- Lymph: Colorless, watery fluid that travels through the lymph system and carries white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes protect the body against infections and the growth of tumors.
- Lymph vessels: A network of thin tubes that collect lymph from different parts of the body and return it to the bloodstream.
- Lymph nodes:
Small, bean-shaped structures that filter lymph and store white blood cells that help fight
infection and disease. Lymph nodes are located along the network of lymph vessels
found throughout the body. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarm, pelvis, neck, abdomen, and groin.
- Spleen: An organ that makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells. It is on the
left side of the abdomen near the stomach.
- Thymus: An organ in which lymphocytes grow and multiply. The
thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone.
- Tonsils: Two small masses of lymph tissue at the back of the throat. The
tonsils make lymphocytes.
- Bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue in the center of
large bones. Bone marrow makes white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
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| Anatomy of the lymph system, showing the lymph vessels and lymph organs including lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. Lymph (clear fluid) and lymphocytes travel through the lymph vessels and into the lymph nodes where the lymphocytes destroy harmful substances. The lymph enters the blood through a large vein near the heart. |
Because lymph tissue is found throughout the body, adult non-Hodgkin
lymphoma can begin in almost any part of the body. Cancer can spread to the liver and many other organs and tissues.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in pregnant women is the same as the disease in nonpregnant women of childbearing age. However, treatment is different for pregnant women. This summary includes information on the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can occur in both adults and children. Treatment for children, however, is different than treatment for adults.
(See the PDQ summary on Childhood
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment for more information.)
There are many different types of
lymphoma.
Lymphomas are divided into two general types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This summary is about the treatment of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For information about other types of lymphoma, see the following PDQ summaries:
Age, gender, and a weakened immune system can affect the risk of
developing adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this with their doctor. Risk factors for adult
non-Hodgkin lymphoma include the following:
- Being older, male, or white.
- Having one of the following medical conditions:
- Taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.
- Being exposed to certain pesticides.
- A diet high in meats and fat.
- Past treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Possible signs of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma include fever,
sweating, fatigue, and weight loss.
These and other symptoms may be caused by adult non-Hodgkin
lymphoma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the
following problems occur:
- Painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm,
groin, or stomach.
- Fever for no known reason.
- Drenching night sweats.
- Feeling very tired.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Skin rash or itchy skin.
- Pain in the chest, abdomen, or bones for no known reason.
Tests that examine the body and lymph system are used to
help detect (find) and diagnose adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
- The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
- The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
- The portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.
| Enlarge | | | | Complete blood count (CBC). Blood is collected by inserting a needle into a vein and allowing the blood to flow into a tube. The blood sample is sent to the laboratory and the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are counted. The CBC is used to test for, diagnose, and monitor many different conditions. |
- Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it.
- Lymph node biopsy: The
removal of all or part of a lymph node. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. One of the following types of biopsies may be done:
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
| Enlarge | | | | Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After a small area of skin is numbed, a Jamshidi needle (a long, hollow needle) is inserted into the patient’s hip bone. Samples of blood, bone, and bone marrow are removed for examination under a microscope. |
- Liver function tests: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by the liver. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the blood is checked for an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). LDH levels help determine prognosis (chance of recovery).
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance
of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:
- The stage of the cancer.
- The type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- The patient’s age and
general health.
- Whether the lymphoma has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Prognosis also depends on the level of LDH in the blood.
For non-Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy, the treatment options also depend on:
- The wishes of the patient
- Which trimester of pregnancy the patient is in.
Some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma spread more quickly than
others do. Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas that occur during pregnancy are aggressive. Delaying treatment
of aggressive lymphoma until after the baby is born may lessen the mother's chance of survival. Immediate
treatment is often recommended, even during pregnancy.
 Back to Top Stages of Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
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After adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out
if cancer cells have spread within the lymph
system or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out the type of cancer and if cancer cells have spread within the lymph system or to other parts of the body is called staging. The
information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the
disease. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan treatment. The following tests and procedures may be used in the staging
process:
- Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
- CT scan (CAT scan):
A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
- PET scan (positron
emission tomography scan): A procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do.
- MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
- Gallium scan: A procedure to detect areas of the body where cells, such as cancer cells, are dividing rapidly. A very small amount of radioactive material, gallium, is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream. The gallium collects in the bones or other tissues (organs) and is detected by a scanner.
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
- Lumbar puncture: A procedure used to collect cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal column. This is done by placing a needle into the spinal column. This procedure is also called an LP or spinal tap.
| Enlarge | | | | Lumbar puncture. A patient lies in a curled position on a table. After a small area on the lower back is numbed, a spinal needle (a long, thin needle) is inserted into the lower part of the spinal column to remove cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, shown in blue). The fluid may be sent to a laboratory for testing. |
For pregnant women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, staging tests that protect the fetus from the harms of radiation are used. These include MRI, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, lumbar puncture, and ultrasound, which do not use radiation. An ultrasound exam is a procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:
- Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
- Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
- Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
Stages of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma may include
E and S.
Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma may be described as
follows:
- E: "E" stands for extranodal and means the cancer is found in an area or organ other than the lymph
nodes or has spread to tissues beyond, but near, the major lymphatic
areas.
- S: "S" stands for spleen and means the cancer is found in the spleen.
The following stages are used for adult non-Hodgkin
lymphoma:
Stage I
Stage I adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into stage I and stage IE.
Stage II
Stage II adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into stage II and stage IIE.
Stage III
Stage III adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into stage III, stage IIIE, stage IIIS, and stage IIIS+E.
Stage IV
In stage IV adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the cancer either:
- is found throughout one or more organs other than the lymph nodes and may be in lymph nodes near those organs; or
- is found in one organ other than the lymph nodes and has spread to lymph nodes far away from that organ.
Adult non-Hodgkin lymphomas are also described in terms of how fast they grow and the location of affected lymph nodes.
Indolent or aggressive:
Contiguous or noncontiguous:
Back to Top Recurrent Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Recurrent adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma is cancer that has recurred (come back)
after it has been treated. The lymphoma may come back
in the lymph system or in other parts of the body. Indolent lymphoma may come back as aggressive lymphoma. Aggressive
lymphoma may come back as indolent lymphoma.
Back to Top Treatment Option Overview
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There are different types of treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Different types of treatment are available for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some
are being tested in clinical trials.
A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help
improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients
with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the
standard treatment, the new
treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.
For pregnant women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, treatment is carefully chosen to protect the fetus. Treatment decisions are based on the mother’s wishes, the stage of the non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the age of the fetus. The treatment plan may change as the symptoms, cancer, and pregnancy change. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.
Four types of standard treatment are used:
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
For pregnant women with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, radiation therapy should be postponed until after delivery, if possible, to avoid any risk to the fetus. If immediate treatment is needed, pregnant women may decide to continue the pregnancy and receive radiation therapy. However, lead used to shield the fetus may not protect it from scattered radiation that could possibly cause cancer in the future.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). To treat certain types of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma
that spread to the brain, CNS
prophylaxis (chemotherapy given to kill cancer cells in the
brain or spinal cord) may be used. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Combination chemotherapy is treatment using two or more anticancer drugs. Steroid drugs may be added, to relieve swelling and inflammation.
In pregnant women, the fetus is exposed to chemotherapy when the mother is treated, and some anticancer drugs cause birth defects.
Because anticancer drugs are passed to the fetus through the mother, both must be watched closely when chemotherapy is given.
Biologic therapy
Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body’s natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.
Monoclonal
antibody therapy is a type of biologic therapy used to treat adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This is a cancer treatment that uses antibodies made in the laboratory, from a single type of immune system cell. These antibodies can identify substances on cancer cells or normal substances that may help cancer cells grow. The antibodies attach to the substances and kill the cancer cells, block their growth, or keep them from spreading. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They may be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies that have been joined to radioactive material are called radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is
closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical
trials.
This summary section describes treatments that are being |
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