Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphoid tissue which is part of our body's immune system.
Our immune system protects us from infection. It is a complex system made up of the bone marrow, the thymus gland (which lies behind the breast bone), the spleen and the lymph nodes (or lymph glands).
One of the most important cells in our immune system is a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. There are two types of lymphocytes: 'B-cells' and 'T-cells'. All lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and start life as young, immature cells called stem cells. Some lymphocytes continue their development in the bone marrow or lymph nodes and these are called B-cells but others move to the thymus gland and they are called T-cells.
Many years ago it was thought that lymphomas could be divided into just two conditions: Hodgkin lymphoma (named after Thomas Hodgkin, the London doctor who first described it over 100 years ago) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). With the passage of time it has become clear that NHL is not a single illness but includes a number of cancers, which behave very differently.
The description and classification of the various types of NHL has developed over the years as more has been learnt both about the immune system and the cancers themselves. The most recent classification still recognises the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL but then goes on to divide NHL into some fifteen different tumour types.
From a practical viewpoint doctors divide all these various types of NHL into one of three groups: low grade, high grade or intermediate grade. This division is based on the appearances under the microscope and helps predict how the condition will behave.
Low grade NHLs usually have a relatively slow growth rate, running a long course and often needing little or no treatment for months or possibly years. When they do need treatment they respond well but are likely to come back again at some time in the future. They frequently respond to treatment on several occasions over the years but may eventually become resistant or transform to a high grade form of NHL.
High grade types of NHL usually grow more rapidly and behave more aggressively and so need immediate treatment. Despite this they are more likely to be completely cured than low grade NHLs. Around half of all people with high grade forms of NHL will be cured by the use of intensive chemotherapy.
Intermediate types of NHL lie somewhere between these two extremes in their behaviour.
As the precise characteristics of each of the individual subtypes of NHL are becoming better understood this 'working' classification is gradually giving way to the idea that the various subtypes of NHL are different conditions in their own right. Each of these will have different patterns of behaviour and may need different approaches to treatment.
MALT lymphomas (also known as MALTomas or marginal zone B-cell lymphomas) are a relatively uncommon form of NHL, accounting for about 5% of all cases. They can occur at any time from early adulthood to old age, with an average age of onset in the mid 60s, and are equally common in men and women.
Most types of NHL usually appear as painless swellings in the neck, armpit or groin, caused by enlarged lymph nodes. MALT lymphomas are different in that they most frequently occur in lymphatic tissue in certain organs of the body. The stomach is the commonest site for MALTomas but the lung, the intestine and other organs may also be affected. The lining tissues of the stomach and the intestine are known as the 'mucosa' and this gives the lymphoma its name - the initials MALT standing for mucosa associated lymphoid tissue.
The precise symptoms caused by the cancer will vary with which organs is affected but some general symptoms which may be present include night sweats, unexplained fever, loss of appetite, weight loss or tiredness.
The diagnosis is made by a small operation, called a biopsy, which takes away a sample of the suspect lymphatic tissue to examine the cells under the microscope. Additional tests, including blood tests, x-rays, scans and bone marrow samples, are then used to get more information about the lymphoma and to see if it has spread elsewhere in the body. This is important in deciding treatment.