Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system which is an immune system that fights off infections and diseases. Lymphomas develop in the cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells that continue to grow in an uncontrolled manner. These abnormal lymphocytes can travel to several parts of the body that can include the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and various organs. There are two types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas; the B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphomas; the Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is a subtype of the T-cell lymphoma.
Symptoms
ALCL can develop in the skin, the lymph nodes or various organs of the body. When it affects the skin, it is called the primary cutaneous ALCL which is generally not very aggressive. This can have the appearance of single or multiple red skin lesions that don’t go away, which can be itchy and ulcerate. Most of the primary cutaneous ALCL can develop in any part of the body that continue to grow very slowly which is generally diagnosed much later. The systemic ALCS are divided into two groups which are based on the presence of abnormal protein on the surface known as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Two subtypes of ALCL are the ALK positive and ALK negative. The systemic ALCS can affect all organs of the body and is considered as aggressive cancer. The systemic ALCL presents the painless enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, under the arms and the neck. It can also commonly involve the bone marrow, lungs and the liver. In around 70% of the cases, the involvement of these organs is evident at diagnosis. Additional symptoms can include fever, night sweats, unintended weight loss and some of the cases may present a high blood level of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on a physical examination that identifies enlarged lymph nodes and various tests. The blood sample will be examined under the microscope to determine their size and the shape of the blood cells. The blood test will also determine the function of the kidney and the liver. A biopsy requires the removal of a small sample of the affected skin tissue or the tumor. Additional tests include bone marrow samples, x-rays and scans that give details of the disease and the stage to determine the best treatment for the individual.
Treatment
As the T-cell lymphomas are usually rare, it can often be difficult to determine the best treatment options but usually involves chemotherapy. Most of the cases often respond well to the treatment. The chemotherapy is administered in cycles that are given on certain days followed by a break for the body to recover before restarting on the next cycle. The number of treatment with chemotherapy is based on the stage of the disease, the age of the individual, their health and if it is ALK positive or ALK negative. If lymphoma relapses in the future, the treatment may include chemotherapy and stem cell transplant to control the disease.
References
http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6300143
