What happens in the body if lymphogranulomatosis is diagnosed? In the lymph nodes are "defensive cells", that is, lymphocytes. If a person becomes ill with this disease, the number of leukocytes increases sharply, and the lymph nodes in the neck and armpits increase in volume.
A physician (pathologist) of British origin Thomas Hodgkin was first able to describe this disease. Now it is called Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What is this disease? What are the prognoses for survival, and how is such lymphoma treated?
A distinctive feature of Hodgkin's disease is the presence of the so-called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of abnormal cells indicates that it is cancer, but is the disease medically related to cancer?
Hodgkin's lymphoma. Unlike other lymphomas
Lymphomas are malignant growths of lymphoid tissue. Lymphogranulomatosis, or Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma. If pathological cells are found in the analyzes, then non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is diagnosed.
The nodes gradually increase and become more and more noticeable. For timely diagnosis, you need to contact an oncologist on time.
Lymphogranulomatosis. Is it cancer or not?
Lymphogranulomatosis is undoubtedly a very serious disease. Everywhere it is called cancer of a lymphoid tissue. But is lymphogranulomatosis really a cancer or not? Epidemiologically and clinically, such lymphoma differs in some respects from real cancer.
What differences can be called?
- The prognosis for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease is favorable. If pathology is found in stage 1, and there are no other concomitant diseases, then lymphoma is treatable.
- There is no localized tumor characteristic of cancer.
- Cancer cells eat healthy cells. In the case of lymphogranulomatosis this is not.
- Cancer begins with the transformation of connective tissue cells. With lymphoma, the development of a tissue of a different nature (lymphoid tissue) is impaired.
However, just like cancer, Hodgkin's disease leads to death if untreated. Lymphoma spreads throughout the body and can lead to damage to other organs. At stages 3 and 4, the tumor is already large and all lymph nodes in the body are affected: under the arms, in the chest, groin. And treatment also consists in radiation.
Lymphogranulomatosis. Causes
There are several theories that explain the development of lymphomas in general, and in particular Hodgkin lymphoma. Still, an accurate picture of the causes and effects regarding the development of lymphogranulomatosis in medical science is not yet available. Although all oncologists refer to a genetic predisposition to this disease. However, the trigger mechanism is not known.
The main factor stimulating the development of the disease is still considered the Epstein-Barr virus, which, according to statistics, is present in most patients. Although it is likely that these are autoimmune problems or mononucleosis. Many people believe that Hodgkin’s disease (lymphogranulomatosis) provokes a strong and lasting effect on humans of toxic substances and poor ecology.
A lot of time and money needs to be spent on researching this issue, but so far, researchers are paying more attention to treatment.
Symptoms of Lymphogranulomatosis
It is impossible to identify Hodgkin's disease (lymphogranulomatosis) without research. But you need to be careful and look closely at the signs of the disease.
Symptoms are as follows:
- For no special reason (no infection, no temperature), the lymph nodes increase. Palpation does not cause pain.
- Shortness of breath due to the spread of the disease in the mediastinum. Enlarged lymph nodes in the chest area compress the lungs.
- Great night sweats.
- Fast weight loss. Man "disappears" in front of his eyes.
- Perhaps the appearance of abdominal pain.
- Some patients (30–35%) complain of terrible itching of the skin.
- Weakness and temperature. Usually up to 38 0 .
- When the spleen increases in size over time, the patient feels heaviness in the hypochondrium on the left.
Patients usually do not care how their illness is classified, but they are concerned about survival rates. The question of whether lymphogranulomatosis is cancer or not is more of a medical nature. It is important for people not related to medicine to know the main signs of lymphogranulomatosis and to understand that the disease is actually serious and can lead to death.
How common is Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma - what is this disease? How does it develop and how widespread in the world? According to studies, people of the white race are much more prone to lymphoma than black.
Such lymphoma is found per year in 3 out of 1 million people. Among other lymphomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs in 15% of cases. The most dangerous form is lymphoid depletion.
Previously, even in the United States, where medicine is more developed, more than 1,100 people died every year from Hodgkin's disease. But after 1975, statistics began to change, doctors learned how to deal with lymphoma and its consequences.
Risk group
The risk group includes a population of more than 50 years and young people 16-20 years old. Adolescents under 18 years of age - this group makes up 5% of the total number of patients. And this is 150 people a year. These data are provided by statistics of German researchers. It is believed that the risk group also includes such categories of the population:
- women who become pregnant after 30 years;
- people exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation;
- elderly people;
- having an immunodeficiency problem.
However, after intensive therapy, people recover completely, or remission persists for a long time if lymphoma is detected at a late stage. The most significant should be the one who is at risk and can get a diagnosis of lymphogranulomatosis; symptoms, a blood test and an x-ray - all this must be constantly checked, be alert and monitor your condition.
Complications
What complications may lie in wait for the patient? It is known that lymphoma spreads to the lymph nodes and disrupts the functioning of many organs. The work of the liver is disrupted, the spleen and thymus significantly increase.
Brain damage. But what diseases may be associated with lymphoma?
- nephrotic syndrome;
- neurological complications;
- mediastinal jaundice;
- lymphatic edema;
- intestinal occlusion;
- infections
- affection of fungi against a background of weakened immunity.
This disease is especially dangerous for pregnant women. As for men, after a course of treatment for the disease, they are not recommended to have children for 1 year.
Diagnostics
How to make a diagnosis? Lymphogranulomatosis is not determined only by external signs. It is important for doctors to identify the stage of the disease and the type of lymphoma. To accurately diagnose the form, you need to conduct a lot of tests.
Of course, an experienced doctor will not be mistaken, he will be informed that the patient has lymphogranulomatosis, symptoms. A blood test is still important. In addition to a blood test, the following procedures are performed:
- MRI
- Biopsy.
- At 4 stages, trepanobiopsy is recommended.
- Be sure to feel the lymph nodes on the neck and next to the clavicles. If there is lymphoma, they will be enlarged. However, a person usually does not feel pain.
- X-ray allows you to see the increase in lymph nodes in the mediastinum. This is also a special sign of lymphoma.
Enlarged lymph nodes squeeze the veins and arteries, because of this, edema is clearly visible in many patients. Be sure to study the metabolism. Cough, along with shortness of breath and severely inflamed nodes under the armpits - all this indirectly indicates lymphogranulomatosis.
Diagnosis should still be based on biopsy and blood tests of the patient. A biochemical blood test usually shows elevated levels of bilirubin, liver enzymes, and globulins. The patient will be diagnosed with anemia and thrombocytopenia in the later stages.
Forecasts
Yet Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer that is relatively easy to treat. More than 95% of patients who have undergone the necessary course of radiation recover. And this sets up the patients in a positive way. After all, there is nothing to despair if this particular lymphoma is found.
The worst prognosis has a diagnosis of lymphoid depletion. With this diagnosis, a lot of atypical cells and a lot of fibrous tissue are found. It is possible to detect lymphoid depletion only with the help of a biopsy, since a histological examination is useless here. But this form is found in only 5% of patients with lymphogranulomatosis.
The lymphogranulomatosis is favorable, the prognosis of survival at which is the highest. Such a prognosis is given when lymphogranulomatosis is detected in the mildest form - with a predominance of lymphocytes. In this case, the disease develops without sclerosis, necrosis and is quickly treatable.
Forms of Hodgkin's Disease
To clarify the form of the disease, it is important to make a detailed analysis of the blood composition. There are several forms of lymphogranulomatosis. Multinucleated abnormal cells are the substrate of the tumor, and if they are found, lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease) is almost 100% confirmed.
So, forms distinguish such:
1) The classic form. The following subtypes belong to it:
- nodular form;
- mixed cell;
- with a small number of lymphocytes (lymphoid depletion).
2) A form of lymphogranulomatosis, significantly enriched in lymphocytes.
Depending on what form of lymphogranulomatosis, the doctor will plan the treatment and make predictions. The most dangerous form is considered with a small number of lymphocytes.
Stages of the disease
As for the stages of lymphogranulomatosis, 4 stages are distinguished, as in cancer. Again the question arises: "Lymphogranulomatosis - is it cancer or not?". In principle, it is practically cancer of the lymphoid tissue, and many doctors simply ignore the differences.
What is lymphogranulomatosis? Stages distinguish such:
- Local stage, when only one group of nodes (or two groups) is enlarged.
- Regional - involving several lymph nodes to the diaphragm.
- Generalized - nodes are affected on both sides of the diaphragm.
- Disseminated. The last and most difficult stage, when other organs and systems are involved in the pathological process: spleen, liver.
The stage of lymphoma is determined after ultrasound and computed tomography.
The pathological cells of Reed-Sternberg quickly spread with blood to other groups of lymph nodes. It is very important at 1 or 2 stages to recognize lymphoma and immediately undergo chemotherapy, and then radiotherapy. This slows the growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Treatment with modern techniques
How is lymphogranulomatosis treated? Treatment is becoming more effective. Compared with the last decades of the 20th century, progress in the cure of this disease is evident: 90% of cases or more live at the turn of 5 years and, being in hospital, are completely cured. Today in world practice such treatment methods are used:
- antibody therapy;
- biological therapy;
- splenectomy;
- stem cell transplantation ;
- radio therapy;
- surgery;
- steroid treatment.
Among the cytostatics, doctors can prescribe: "Embihin", "Cyclophosphamide", "Natulan", "Prednisolone". These drugs are used for a long period.
And radiotherapy almost always improves the patient's condition. Almost all patients go through this procedure.
However, not all of these methods are used for treatment. The personal attending physician should develop his plan. Some are limited only to chemotherapy and drugs. Others prefer steroid treatment. It all depends on the age of the patient and his current condition.
Folk remedies
In addition to medicines, you can take natural medicines. Some plants really have excellent healing effects, such as aloe. Here is one recipe that contains aloe juice: 500 gr. juice of this plant, 700 gr. honey and only 20 gr. mummy. Defend for three days.
Also, supportive therapy is a drink from a plant such as red root, or periwinkle.
But you need to understand that the main treatment for taking herbs cannot be with such a serious illness as lymphogranulomatosis. Treatment with folk remedies a second time; all the same, radiation and drugs are primary.
How to protect yourself from Hodgkin lymphoma?
Since the exact causes of this disease have not yet been found, it is difficult to judge prevention. Nevertheless, it is important for young people to take more care of their health, and less to expose the body to toxic substances such as alcohol and tobacco. Frequent visits to tanning salons can also be harmful.