What Is Lymphoma? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options at a Glance

In lymphoma, lymphocytes multiply uncontrollably. Normally, the body regulates when these cells grow and when they die. "Gerät dieser Mechanismus außer Kontrolle, sammeln sich krankhaft veränderte Zellen an", according to the medical explanations. There are over 60 different forms, which differ considerably in their course, aggressiveness, and treatment options.

Forms and Classification

Malignant lymphomas are traditionally divided into three main groups: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and multiple myeloma, which is classified among plasma cell diseases. Hodgkin lymphoma is named after the physician Sir Thomas Hodgkin, who first described this cancer of the lymphatic system around 200 years ago.

Hodgkin lymphoma primarily affects adolescents and young adults, but it can also occur at an older age — around 25 percent of all Hodgkin lymphoma patients are over 60 years old. Indolent, or slowly growing forms include, among others, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), follicular lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, and MALT lymphoma. Typical aggressive representatives include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The most common sign is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes that persists or steadily grows. It typically affects the neck, armpit, or groin area. "Oft verursachen -Lymphome zu Beginn keine spezifischen Beschwerden und werden zufällig bei einer ärztlichen Untersuchung entdeckt", emphasize medical specialists.

Characteristic symptoms include heavy night sweats, regularly recurring fever, and unexplained weight loss of more than ten percent within six months. "Auch extreme Müdigkeit, Atemnot, Husten oder hartnäckiger Juckreiz am ganzen Körper können Hinweise sein", it is further noted. Changes in blood values — such as anemia due to reduced red blood cells, increased susceptibility to infection due to a lack of white blood cells, or a heightened tendency to bruise and bleed due to fewer platelets — may indicate involvement of the bone marrow.

The initial diagnosis is usually made through the microscopic examination of a tissue sample from a suspicious lymph node. "In vielen Fällen wird beispielsweise eine Knochenmarksbiopsie durchgeführt, um zu prüfen, ob das Lymphom bereits das Knochenmark befallen hat", according to the specialist information.

Treatment and Prognosis

Low-grade or indolent lymphomas develop slowly over years or even decades. They are considered chronic diseases that can usually be pushed back well with treatment, but are generally not curable permanently. High-grade or aggressive lymphomas progress rapidly without treatment, but can often already be cured with an initial intensive therapy.

The most common form of treatment is chemotherapy, often combined with antibody therapy — this combination is called immunochemotherapy. Surgery alone, on the other hand, is generally not a suitable therapy, because lymphomas usually affect the whole body. Radiation therapy alone is used only in a few patients, for example when the lymphoma is growing slowly and is localized. In some patients with slowly growing lymphomas, an initial watch-and-wait strategy with regular blood checks may be considered.

Relative survival rates have been steadily increasing in recent years. Around 1,800 people in Austria are diagnosed with lymphoma each year. Sources for the medical explanations are the Austrian Cancer Aid (Österreichische Krebshilfe) and the German Cancer Information Service (Deutscher Krebsinformationsdienst).

Background: The Marterbauer Case

Markus Marterbauer had publicly revealed his illness and stated that he is being treated at Vienna General Hospital (AKH Wien). Broadly speaking, lymphomas are divided into Hodgkin lymphomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, each of which requires different therapeutic approaches.

Sources: Österreichische Krebshilfe; Deutscher Krebsinformationsdienst