Language
Country/Area
No result found
DLBCL symptoms: Do you know what these symptoms may mean?
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a cancer that originates in B cells, which are the type of lymphocytes responsible for producing antibodies. In adults, DLBCL is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with an incidence of 7 to 8 cases per 100,000 people per year, according to data from the United States and the United Kingdom. This cancer occurs primarily in older people, with a median age of diagnosis of about 70, although it can also occur in younger adults and, rarely, children. DLBCL can appear almost anywhere in the body and its rate of progression varies depending on a number of factors. It is usually a very aggressive malignancy.
Although the exact cause of DLBCL is not fully understood, it is usually caused by the transformation of normal B cells, and may also be caused by the malignant transformation of other types of lymphoma (especially marginal zone lymphoma) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. . Immunodeficiency is a major risk factor in the development of this condition. In addition, infections with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Helicobacter pylori have also been associated with the development of certain subtypes of DLBCL. However, the majority of cases are associated with a stepwise accumulation of genetic mutations and changes in gene expression that may drive the malignant behavior of certain B cell types.The first presentation is usually a rapidly enlarging mass or tissue infiltrate accompanied by systemic B symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and night sweats.
Diagnosis and Prognosis of DLBCL
DLBCL is usually diagnosed by removing a portion of the tumor through a biopsy and examining the tissue under a microscope. This diagnosis is usually made by a hematopathologist. Multiple subtypes of DLBCL have been identified that differ in clinical presentation, biopsy findings, aggressiveness, prognosis, and recommended treatment. However, for most DLBCL subtypes, conventional treatment combines chemotherapy with a monoclonal antibody drug that targets cancerous B cells, usually rituximab. With these treatments, more than half of DLBCL patients can be cured; for older people, though that number is lower, their five-year survival rate is still about 58%. In DLBCL, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS), approximately 70% of cases initially present with lymph node disease, usually as a rapidly growing mass at diagnosis, most often in the axilla, groin, or neck.
In about 30% of cases, the disease presents as an extralymphoma, most commonly in the stomach, followed by other sites such as the testicles, breast, uterus, ovaries, kidneys, and adrenal glands.
Pathophysiology and prognostic indicators
The pathophysiology of DLBCL shows that most cases of DLBCL, NOS appear to be caused, at least in part, by a gradual progression of genetic changes, including mutations, altered expression, gene amplification, and translocation. These changes often lead to abnormal activity of cell signaling pathways, making the growth, reproduction and survival of cancer cells increasingly difficult to control.
During the development and progression of the disease, some genes such as BCL2, BCL6 and MYC often undergo changes and are believed to play a key role in the development of DLBCL.
Conclusion
Due to the complexity of DLBCL and its varying clinical manifestations, patients need to be given high attention when obtaining a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan. Knowing the early symptoms of DLBCL and seeking medical treatment in time may affect the effectiveness of treatment. For every reader, can this information arouse your deeper attention and thinking about health?
