Skin Lymphoma – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
Skin Lymphomas – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments that we should not ignore. Also, skin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system . Lymphocytes are present in the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues such as the spleen, bone marrow and some other organs including the skin .
Lymphomas can start in any of these places. When non-Hodgkin lymphoma starts only in the skin , it is called skin lymphoma. A lymphoma that starts in the lymph nodes or another part of the body and then spreads to the skin is not considered a skin lymphoma . So, check out Skin Lymphoma – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments.
Causes: There is no well-defined cause for the development of skin lymphoma , however, some associations are well established, such as the HTLV1 virus, the Epstein-Barr virus, HIV infection and the H. pylori bacteria, and immunosuppression. The incidence of the disease is increasing in recent years.
Skin lymphoma was first described by physician Thomas Hodgkin, in 1839. Lymphomas are divided into two large groups, namely: skin lymphoma and Hodgkin ‘s lymphoma. The two types present clinically similarly, but it is important to diagnose properly, as the prognosis varies greatly.
Skin lymphoma is the most common and has several subtypes, with different prognoses, the most common being diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (aggressive lymphoma) and follicular lymphoma (indolent lymphoma). The difference between Hodgkin ‘s lymphoma and skin lymphoma lies in the characteristics of the malignant cells and it is only possible to differentiate them with a biopsy. Let’s talk a little about each type.
Hodgkin ‘s Lymphoma – Hodgkin ‘s lymphoma represents 12% of lymphoma cases and is distinguished from other types of skin lymphoma by the presence of a characteristic type of large cell, called Reed-Sternberg cell. These cells are large cancerous lymphocytes with more than one nucleus.
Skin lymphoma – Skin lymphomas are the most frequent and the vast majority originate from B lymphocytes. Unlike Hodgkin ‘s lymphoma, skin lymphomas do not have a characteristic cell type, presenting significant morphological, immunophenotypic and genetic heterogeneity.
Symptoms: Many patients with skin lymphomas often notice enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin. Lymph node enlargement is less frequent near the ears, elbow, throat , or near the tonsils. Rarely, skin lymphoma can start somewhere else, such as the bones, lungs , or skin . In these cases, patients often present with symptoms related to the local involvement, such as bone pain, cough , chest pain, rashes or skin lumps .
Patients with skin lymphoma may also experience symptoms such as fever , chills, excessive sweating (especially at night), fatigue , loss of appetite or weight loss, and during the medical examination, an enlarged spleen may be noticed. In some cases of skin lymphoma , it is possible for the disease to be discovered only during a “routine” medical examination or while the patient is being treated for an unrelated condition.
Main Symptoms of Skin Lymphoma:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and/or groin
- excessive night sweats
- Fever
- Pruritus ( itchy skin )
- Unexplained weight loss.
Treatment for Skin Lymphoma: Treatment depends on the stage of the lymphoma, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy are usually used. In more severe cases that do not respond to chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation may be attempted.