As indicated under “lymphomas” there are several disease entities contained in non-Hodgkin’s disease (also called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL), which is common and multifaceted. NHL can be brought on by different causes. For instance, human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus(HTLV-1) is endemic in southern Japan, South America, the Caribbean and the southeastern USA and is the cause of an acute illness called the adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. This is one of the NHLs and it presents with an aggressive type illness with skin involvement, generalized lymph gland swelling, enlargement of spleen and liver and a leukemia, where the leukemia cells are malignant T lymphocytes.
Non-Hodgkin’s Disease
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma
With most NHL cases the B cells (the antibody producing cells attacking viruses and bacteria) of the immune system are affected with a malignant transformation. In the minority of cases the other branch of the immune system, T cells (killer T cells that get rid of parasites and cancer cells). Common subtypes of NHL are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma, both of which occur in people in their mid 60’s.
Here is an overview of many more less common forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
References
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2. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th edition, editors M.Beers and R.Berkow. Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999.
3. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 4th edition, edited by V.T. DeVita et al., Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1993. Chapters 51 and 52.
4. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 2. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter 44,Lymphomas.
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7. Conn’s Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier
8. Ferri: Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc
