Spleen cancer is one of the rarest forms of cancer pathologies of a malignant nature. In most cases, the clinical picture with splenic oncopathology is blurred, so it is mistaken for a number of other diseases. The disease occurs in patients of different age groups and gender. The formation of a tumor in this area is considered very dangerous, since the lymphatic system in the body is responsible for opposing carcinogenic cells. Timely detection of symptoms of spleen cancer gives the most favorable prognosis for survival.
Danger of pathology
Let's see what danger spleen cancer poses to human life. The organ is located in the upper abdominal cavity on the left, directly under the chest. The spleen is protected by the ninth and tenth ribs. The size of the organ is no more than a fist; the shape resembles beans. The spleen has a soft and spongy structure, it is included in the lymphatic system. The main function of the spleen in the human body is to ensure immunity at the proper level. It also acts as a blood filter, eliminating all unnecessary from its composition, including viruses and pathogenic bacteria.
What fabrics does it consist of?
The spleen consists of two types of tissues - red and white pulp, whose functions differ. White pulp is responsible for the production of lymphocytes, which are bright blood cells. Their role in ensuring the protective functions of the body is very important, since it is these cells that help prevent infection by pathogens. Red tissues perform the function of a blood filter, and also maintain the content and production of red blood cells at the proper level. Red pulp processes damaged, abnormal, or old blood cells. In addition, it accumulates platelets and white blood cells, which determines the rate of blood coagulation and provides regenerative functions. The spleen in the human body is very important.
What is the danger of damage to this organ?
The main danger of cancer of this organ is that it is almost impossible to identify the disease in the early stages of its development. The clinical picture of the pathology is blurred, and the initial signs of the disease are attributed to overwork, a lot of work and the presence of stressful situations. The examination is often carried out at the moment when the second or third stage of cancer develops. In this case, conservative methods of treating pathology are completely excluded.
Deterioration of indicators of coagulability of blood
Another risk of developing spleen cancer is a deterioration in blood coagulation. This greatly complicates the selection of a therapeutic regimen, since performing an organ resection or other surgical intervention becomes very dangerous. In this case, the likelihood of developing uncontrolled bleeding in severe form increases.
The tumor in the spleen deals the greatest blow to the body's defense system. As a result, the body becomes susceptible to attacks of pathogenic microflora, which leads to easy infection of the patient. Symptoms of spleen cancer are discussed below.
Causes of the tumor
First of all, the predisposition to the formation of malignant tumors is due to trauma to the abdomen, even if the damage did not cause rupture of the spleen. In addition, a neoplasm of a benign nature in the organ shows a tendency to malignancy. In addition, the disease can be metastasized by a tumor of another organ.
What cancer can spleen metastases form in? Metastasis occurs most often with cancer of the ovaries, mammary glands, lung carcinoma, and also with melanoma.
An important role in the formation of cancer is played by a genetic predisposition. Other risk factors that can trigger cancer of the organ are also highlighted, including:
- Exposure to the body of chemicals.
- Radiation effect. The causes of spleen cancer are not fully understood.
- The presence in the history of close relatives of lymphoma or leukemia.
- Chemotherapy course.
- Diseases of the lymph tissue in chronic form.
- Some types of infectious diseases.
- Autoimmune conditions against AIDS and HIV.
Additional factors
In addition, organ transplantation or a long-standing oncological lesion of the body can provoke the formation of spleen cancer in adults. The main risk groups are considered to be elderly patients, as well as athletes who, due to their activities, cannot avoid injuries. Mechanical impact and blows to the abdominal area can trigger the development of cancer.
Symptoms of spleen cancer in the initial stage
An enlarged spleen, known in medical practice as splenomegaly, is not a separate disease, but rather indicates a systemic disorder. The nonspecific manifestations of the neoplasm in the spleen are the following symptoms:
- Soreness. It is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort in the upper left abdomen, radiating to the shoulder. When taking a deep breath, the intensity of the pain syndrome increases.
- A feeling of fullness of the abdomen, even outside of a meal or after eating a small amount of food. This symptom is explained by spleen pressure, which increases in size, on adjacent organs, including the stomach.
- Anemia. Weakness, pallor of the skin and dizziness accompany this condition.
- Fatigue.
- Propensity to develop infectious diseases.
- Bleeding of internal organs.
- Impaired appetite.
- Severe hair loss.
In addition to the listed symptoms, a characteristic symptom of spleen cancer, such as loss of skin elasticity, is also distinguished. This causes wrinkles and dehydration of the skin.
Symptoms of an advanced stage
Spleen cancer has a similar rate with lymphosarcoma and angiosarcoma, so the pathology progresses rapidly. If it was not possible to detect the presence of cancer at an early stage of its development, the disease begins to progress and the patient has such serious and dangerous conditions as:
- Abrupt loss of body weight, depletion of the body until anorexia.
- An increase in body temperature due to intoxication of the body. This symptom is accompanied by aching muscles and bones, as well as chills.
- Swelling and an increase in the size of other internal organs.
- Pain of a constant nature in the left hypochondrium.
- Destruction of bone tissue. Tendency to fractures, violation of the integrity of the teeth.
In addition, with stage 4 spleen cancer, respiratory dysfunction is observed. According to laboratory studies, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia are detected, which is explained by a dysfunctional disorder of the organ.
Symptoms of spleen cancer in women are similar to symptoms of administration. Patients appear: nausea after eating; heaviness in the left hypochondrium; allergy to fruits and vegetables; persistent constipation or diarrhea. Sharp mood swings are also observed, acne or excessive dryness of the skin appear, weight fluctuations are noticeable.
Diagnostics
If the patient has a painful or acute character, which manifests itself constantly in the region of the left hypochondrium, you should consult a doctor. Signs that may alert are loss of appetite, unreasonable weight loss, and increased fatigue. In addition, swelling in the abdominal region cannot be ignored. If, along with the listed symptoms, blood impurities are found in the feces, you should immediately consult a specialist.
The doctor prescribes therapy only after a full examination of the patient, as well as after receiving the results of laboratory tests. The main methods for diagnosing spleen cancer are as follows:
- Analysis in the laboratory. A detailed blood test is prescribed to evaluate its main indicators.
- Bone marrow sampling for research.
- Magnetic resonance imaging to determine the presence of tumor metastases.
- Spiral type of computed tomography.
- Ultrasound procedure.
These diagnostic methods make it possible to determine the size of the spleen, as well as the volume of the tumor, the stage of its development and the presence of metastases. In addition, diagnosis helps to assess the quality of the blood supply process.
How to treat a spleen?
Modern treatments
Save the spleen is only possible if the cancer was detected at the initial stage of its development. Expectant tactics are not always used, since in this case it is not effective. The most common treatments are:
- Chemotherapy. Treatment is carried out by introducing several drugs that stop the growth of pathogenic cells due to the chemical properties of their components. The action of drugs has a cumulative effect, since in order to obtain a therapeutic effect it is necessary to achieve maximum concentration. Chemotherapy is always carried out in a course, while the choice of drugs is made taking into account the stage of development of the pathology. The main complication of this method is complete hair loss.
- Radiation exposure. When choosing this method, targeted treatment of the tumor with high-energy rays occurs. Irradiation can be carried out both externally and internally. Complications are similar to chemotherapy.
- Surgical intervention. Cancer of the spleen is treated by complete removal of the organ, as well as metastasis, if any. After the operation, radiation or chemotherapy is prescribed, which is aimed at preventing relapse. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, and its duration can be up to several hours. As a result of a complete resection of the organ, the patient acquires the social status of a complete loss of working capacity. However, in case of timely surgical intervention, life can be prolonged.
- Stem cell transplant. This method is the most modern, however, due to the high cost of the procedure, it is carried out infrequently. The purpose of the method is the development by the body of new lymphocytes that increase the body's resistance to the negative effects of the tumor. Stem cell transplantation can occur both through the donor and from the patient himself, if it was possible to take the material before chemotherapy and radiation.
How to treat a spleen, the doctor will prompt. The therapeutic method is selected depending on the age of the patient, the stage of development of the tumor, as well as the presence or absence of metastasized cells. No oncologist can guarantee the effectiveness of the treatment.
Forecast
If spleen cancer has reached an inoperable stage, then the prognosis of survival is one year. If it was possible to carry out an operative measure in time, consisting in resection of the organ, then the prognosis for spleen cancer is much more favorable. If the examination revealed the spread of metastases, then the life expectancy is unlikely to exceed several months.
A person is able to survive after organ removal, but his quality of life will significantly decrease. Such treatment will affect the body's resistance to infectious lesions. The liver takes on some of the functions of the spleen, but the organ fails to fully compensate for the loss.