Other Lymphomas

摘要

Lymphoma is a general term encompassing a variety of cancers of the lymphatic system. Unlike Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is characterized by a specific abnormal cell (the Reed-Sternberg cell, as described in the November 2008 "Ask the Doctor" column), non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are a diverse group of more than 20 lymphatic cancers. To make a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma requires a biopsy. If the tissue to be biopsied is difficult to reach, a needle biopsy (in which fluid is aspirated for microscopic examination) is possible, but generally biopsy of an entire lymph node is recommended for lymphoma patients. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are divided into two main groups according to the rate of cell growth visible in a biopsy. Low-grade disease grows slowly and is called indolent lymphoma; high- or intermediate-grade disease is called aggressive lymphoma. The aggressive form actually is more often cured, because treatments affect cells while they are in the growth stage.