What are the different types of lymphomas?

What are the clinical manifestations and consequences?

What to do if you suspect lymphoma as a differential dx?

Lymphoid Neoplasms

Lymphocytic LeukemiaNeoplasm associated with widespread involvement of marrow, accompanied by large numbers of tumour cells in peripheral blood.

LymphomaNeoplastic tissue masses arising as discrete tissue masses.

Just note- These similarities have led to the grouping of some lymphomas and leukemias together as they share features:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma

• Precursor B cell lymphoblastic leukemia and pre-B Cell lymphoblastic lymphoma

• Pre-T cell lymphoblastic leukemia and pre-T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma

Lymphoma

Non – Hodgkin Lymphoma•Precursor B cell Neoplasm• Peripheral B cell Neoplasm• Precursor T cell neoplasm• Peripheral T cell and NK neoplasm

Hodgkin Lymphoma• Reed Steenberg cells(B cell origin)

85% of lymphoid neoplasms are of B cell origin. Remainder being T cells. Occasionally they are NK cells.

Further classification is done as: Indolent years), Aggressive (months), Highly Aggressive (weeks), Hodgkin (good prognosis)

Precursor B and T cell neoplasms (highly aggressive)

Hodgkin or non hodgkin?

• Precursor B cell neoplasms arise in the bone marrow. Resulting in Leukemias. Precursor B cell Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

• Precursor T cell Neoplasms can arise in either the bone marrow or the thymus. Therefore developing either Precursor T cell Acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma.

Mature B cell neoplasms These tumors can be derived from any stage of mature B cell

development, including naive B cells, germinal center B cells, post-germinal center memory B cells, or plasma cells.

The most common B cell neoplasms derive from cells that have experienced a germinal center reaction.

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) — CLL/SLL is the most common leukemia in Western countries. small, mature-appearing lymphocytes, presenting primarily either as a leukemia (CLL) or a lymphoma (SLL).

• Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) — LPL is a neoplasm derived from post-germinal center B cells

• Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)

• B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL)

• Follicular lymphoma (FL) — FL, previously called follicle center lymphoma, is the second most common lymphoma in the United States and Western Europe.

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (different sub types)

• Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia

• Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZL)

• Hairy cell leukemia (HCL)

• Plasma cell myeloma/plasmacytoma

• AL (primary) amyloidosis and light and heavy chain deposition diseases

Mature T-cell/Nk neoplasms

• List equally as long as for B cell• Most common is peripheral T cell lymphoma

(PTCL). This accounts for 15% of NHL.• Can have neoplasm of both myeloid and

lymphoid origin.

Hodgkin Lymphoma• Arises from germinal center or post-germinal center B cells. HL has a unique cellular composition,

containing a minority of neoplastic cells (these are the Reed-Sternberg cells and their variants) within an inflammatory background.

• Divided into two sub-groups, based on appearance and immunophenotype of the tumor cells. These are

- Nodular lymphocyte predominant HL (non classical) — The tumor cells in this subtype retain the immunophenotypic features of germinal center B cells. (variant of RS cell)

Non classical hodgkins lymphoma only comprises 5% of cases

- Classical HL — The tumor cells in this group are also derived from germinal center B cells, but typically fail to express many of the genes and gene products that define normal germinal center B cells. Based on differences in the appearance of the tumor cells and the composition of the reactive background, it is sub divided again:

1)Nodular sclerosis classical HL (most common) 2)Mixed cellularity classical HL 3)Lymphocyte-rich classical HL 4)Lymphocyte depleted classical HL

Clinical presentation of NHL• Presentation differs greatly (type/location)• Aggressive tumours present with a rapidly growing mass and

systemic B symptoms (fever >38, night sweats, weight loss)• Indolent lymphomas present with slow growing

lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, or cytopenias.• Less common presentations, most frequently seen with T cell

lymphomas, include skin rash, generalized fatigue, malaise, fever of unknown origin, ascites, effusions.

• Patients with primary gastrointestinal (GI) tract lymphoma -anorexia, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, chronic pain, abdominal fullness, early satiety, visceral obstruction, acute perforation and GI hemorrhage

• CNS lymphoma may present with headache, lethargy, focal neurologic symptoms, seizures, paralysis, spinal cord compression

• Complications from tumour are many and varied, these may be the presenting problem.

• Interesting point: Acquired angioedema (AAE) can occur (swelling and skin rash). This may

be due to mass activation of the complement cascade and a resulting depletion of C1 inh protein. Or Neoplastic B cells producing autoantibody

against it. C1 inh protein regulates bradykinin.

• Spinal cord compression• Pericardial tamponade• Hypercalcemia (eg, adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma)• Superior or inferior vena cava obstruction• Hyperleukocytosis (eg, B or T cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma)• Acute airway obstruction (eg, mediastinal lymphoma)• Lymphomatous meningitis and/or CNS mass lesions• Hyperuricemia and tumor lysis syndrome• Hyperviscosity syndrome (eg, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia)• Intestinal obstruction, intussusception• Ureteral obstruction, unilateral or bilateral hydronephrosis• Severe hepatic dysfunction • Venous thromboembolic disease • Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia and/or thrombocytopenia (eg,

small lymphocytic lymphoma)

• Rarely may present with abnormal findings on lab results; hypercalceamia, hyperuriceamia, Increased LDH, serum protein electrophoresis.

• Paraneoplastic syndromes.

A Tribute

To the almighty Paul Conway

Who defeated me on the obstacle course

I humbly accept defeat

History

• Family history of lymphomas• Exposure to cetain agricultural pesticides,

toxins implicated in NHL• Relevant infections (HIV/EBV/HCV)• Immunodeficiency disorders• Inflammatory Gi diseases, H.pylori infection

(crohns)

Presenting Complaints• Systemic B symptoms in 40%. More common

in aggressive disease.• Lymphadenopathy- >2/3 of patients with NHL

present with peripheral lymphadenopathy. (ask about history of lump). Exclude infection.

• Fever of unknown origin

Physical examination• Lymphoid survey (Waldeyers, liver/spleen,

abdominal nodal sites, regularly palpable nodes). • Chest and lungs- 20% of patients with NHL present

with mediastinal adenopathy on chest radiograph. This may be asymptomatic or cause cough, chest discomfort.

• Superior vena cava syndrome as a result of compression (3-8%)

• Chylopericardium, chylothorax, chylous ascites can be present if major obstruction to thoracic duct.

• 50% of patients will develop extranodal disease. Most common site site is GI tract followed by skin.

Hodgkin lymphoma• Bimodal age distribution, peaks 20-30, then again over 50.• Most patients present with overt disease, most commonly

asymptomatic enlarged lymph node or mass on chest xray.• Symptoms non specific and more compatible with

infection (B symptoms). Fever more noticeable in evening. Pruritis

• Asymptomatic lymphadenopathy in 70%. Non tender and rubbery. Spreads to adjacent nodes rather than haphazardly.

• Retro lymphadenopathy may give rise to loin pain.• Alcohol induced pain (within a few minutes)

Burkitts lymphoma• Endemic (african), • non endemic (sporadic) 30% of pediatric lymphomas,

• immunodeficiency related.

Staging is not necessarily prognostic

-Measures locations-Not actual tumour burden-Histology and clinical parameters are better indicators- International prognostic indicator (IPI)

• Patients with generalized lymphadenopathy should have a CBC and chest x-ray.

If these are normal, other considerations include a PPD (TB), HIV antibody determination, RPR (syphilis?), ANA (Autoimmune), and heterophile (EBV).

• Patients with localized lymphadenopathy can be observed for three to four weeks if there is nothing else in the history and physical examination to suggest malignancy.

• This approach is safe and avoids unnecessary biopsies since the adenopathy will resolve or the cause will become obvious in many patients during that time. Diagnostic tool of time?

“Even with "can't miss" diagnoses such as Hodgkin lymphoma, head and neck cancer, or tuberculosis, the window of opportunity for effective treatment is likely to remain open during this period of observation.”

Biopsy is appropriate if an abnormal node has not resolved after 4/52, perform immediately in patients with other findings suggesting malignancy.

Empiric treatment of unexplained lymphadenopathy with antibiotics is not useful.

LYMPH NODE AND TISSUE BIOPSY

A biopsy is required for the diagnosis and classification of NHL. This should be obtained urgently if an aggressive NHL is suspected.

Lymph node selection — The decision to biopsy a lymph node is dependent upon the clinical situation, characteristics of the patient (age, gender) and location.

Regardless of whether lymphadenopathy is localized, regional, or generalized, if other diagnostic tests do not support another diagnosis, a lymph node should be considered for biopsy if 1 or more present:

-Significant enlargement (>2.25cm²) -Persistence for more than four to six weeks -Progressive increase in size

Type of biopsy — Most patients presenting with enlarged lymph nodes have a benign form of reactive lymphadenopathy.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) as an initial screening test. When coupled with comprehensive immunophenotyping (typically flow cytometry), FNA is particularly useful at distinguishing reactive B cell hyperplasias from clonal mature B cell neoplasms.

However, the general consensus is that accurate histopathologic evaluation requires a tissue biopsy, preferably an intact lymph node, FNAs suggesting the presence of a lymphoma definitive tissue biopsy