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What are the Different Types of Lymphoma of the Spleen?

Colette Larson
Colette Larson

Lymphoma is a type of cancer involving lymphocytes — immune system cells that exist in lymph nodes, the spleen and bone marrow — that is usually treated with chemotherapy. Healthy lymphocytes destroy infectious organisms and abnormal cells. A malignant lymphocyte originates in the lymph nodes, forming a tumor deposit that appears as an enlarged node. The spleen plays an important role in the immune system by producing lymphocytes; removing old and damaged red blood cells, bacteria and cell waste; recycling iron; and storing a reserve of blood. There are four main types of lymphoma of the spleen: follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

Follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes, represents 30 percent of all cases of lymphoma. This type of cancer is usually detected between the ages of 60 to 65. Common symptoms described by patients with follicular lymphoma include fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite and enlarged lymph nodes, as well as abdominal discomfort or fullness, which is caused by an enlarged spleen or liver. Less-common symptoms, referred to as B symptoms, include night sweats, high temperatures and weight loss. Standard treatment includes monitoring of the disease until it begins to progress, chemotherapy, a drug called rituximab, radioimmunotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Internal organs, including the spleen, which is located to the left of the stomach.
Internal organs, including the spleen, which is located to the left of the stomach.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes, and it represents approximately 6 percent of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. It affects four times the number of men as compared with the number of women, and the median age at diagnosis of MCL is 58. Common symptoms are similar to those experienced by follicular lymphoma patients. Chemotherapy is the primary form of treatment, because the medications are able to reach all parts of the body through the blood. Localized treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy have limited treatment roles.

Individuals with follicular lymphoma commonly experience abdominal discomfort.
Individuals with follicular lymphoma commonly experience abdominal discomfort.

Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is a rare type of splenic lymphoma that might also be found in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Patients typically are elderly men. Common physical complaints include fatigue and abdominal discomfort caused by an enlarged spleen. This type of cancer is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis C. A splenectomy is usually performed on patients with this type of lymphoma of the spleen, as is follow-up chemotherapy.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes.

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is a rare type of slowly progressing lymphoma of the spleen that affects approximately 1-2 percent of all lymphomas. The affected cells are typically found in the spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes. This type of splenic lymphoma causes the liquid part of the blood to thicken, leading to decreased blood flow to many organs.

Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori.
Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori.

The specific symptoms experienced by patients who have lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma depend on which organs are affected by a decrease in blood supply. Symptoms might include vision problems because of poor circulation to the blood vessels in the back of the eyes as well as headaches, dizziness and confusion because of poor circulation within the brain. Fatigue and weakness are other common symptoms, as is a tendency to bleed and bruise easily. Common treatments include splenectomy, chemotherapy and plasma exchange, also called plasmapheresis.

Discussion Comments

Lostnfound

From what the article says, at least it seems like chemotherapy is pretty effective against these cancers, which is a good thing. It's certainly better than having brain cancer, which usually doesn't respond to chemo very well. It's because the chemo can't get through the blood-brain barrier very well. I know that from a friend whose wife died from a glioma, which is some kind of brain cancer. You find out these kinds of facts when your life is spent in doctors' offices.

I think I've read that chemotherapy is generally effective against most blood cancers, unless there's a mutation they find that makes the cancer harder to treat. I wonder why it works so well with some cancers and not much against others.

Grivusangel

This surprises me. I never lymphoma would ever affect the spleen. I never really thought of it, but it just goes to show how everything in the body is connected to everything else. It just never occurred to me that one could get lymphoma of the spleen.

I guess the one advantage is that you can live without a spleen, so it could be removed, if necessary. Too bad it doesn't regenerate, like the liver does. I've heard of people with liver cancer having half the liver removed that had the cancer on it, the liver regenerated and the person recovered. That doesn't happen very often though, I realize.

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    • Internal organs, including the spleen, which is located to the left of the stomach.
      By: adimas
      Internal organs, including the spleen, which is located to the left of the stomach.
    • Individuals with follicular lymphoma commonly experience abdominal discomfort.
      By: fred goldstein
      Individuals with follicular lymphoma commonly experience abdominal discomfort.
    • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes.
      By: joshya
      Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma of the spleen that affects B-lymphocytes.
    • Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori.
      By: joshya
      Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is strongly associated with infections such as Helicobacter pylori.
    • An ultrasound can be used to identify a spleen tumor.
      By: nyul
      An ultrasound can be used to identify a spleen tumor.