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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Alternative Names

Lymphoma - non-Hodgkin's; NHL; B-cell lymphomas

Symptoms

The most common first sign of lymphomas is painless enlargement of one or more lymph node, usually in the neck, armpits, or groin. Patients should see their doctors if these symptoms do not go away within 2 - 3 weeks.

Systemic and B Symptoms

Lymphomas sometimes cause systemic symptoms -- symptoms that affect the whole body, rather than a specific location. Some systemic symptoms are referred to as B symptoms. Patients who have B symptoms have a more severe condition than asymptomatic patients with the same cancer stage or tumor location or size.

B systemic symptoms include:

• Drenching night sweats and weight loss
• Fever (may occur sporadically and only at night)

Other systemic symptoms include:

• Itching all over the body caused by the release of histamines, substances ordinarily triggered by an allergic response. In the case of NHL, this is due to abnormalities in the immune system. Although this is a systemic symptom, it is not usually considered a B symptom if other systemic symptoms are not also present.
• In late stages, some patients develop a skin rash.
• Tumor masses in the chest can cause coughing or breathlessness.
• Lymphomas in the stomach can cause nausea and vomiting.

• Review Date: 1/17/2007
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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