Malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are cancers of the blood that have in common their origin in lymphoid cells, at different stages of development.
In NHLs, a lymphoid cell reproduces uncontrollably, causing an increase in the size of the organ in which they occur. They can occur anywhere in the body and from there spread to other organs and tissues. They are somewhat more frequent in men and in patients with diseases of the immune system (AIDS, immunodeficiencies, organ transplant recipients, autoimmune diseases), and infections (Helicobacter gastritis, Epstein Barr virus).
Symptoms are highly variable. Most are detected as a result of adenopathy (large or swollen lymph node). Fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue and repeated infections may be present.
Diagnosis is made by history and physical examination. Confirmation is usually obtained by biopsy of a lymph node.
Treatment will depend on the type of lymphoma, the patient's age, general condition and the extent of the tumour. It may be chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The prognosis is highly variable depending on the type of tumour.
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