marginal zone lymphoma |Lymphoma Marginal Area

Lymphoma Marginal Area

There are two kinds of non-Hodgkin lymphomas: The aggressive and the indolent. Of these, the lymphoma of the marginal zone (or the marginal ganglionic zone) is relatively rare, unlike diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma.

Characteristics of lymphomas in the marginal zone
The lymphomas of the marginal zone are relatively rare and there are about 2 800 each year in France. According to statistics, these lymphomas mainly affect people over the age of 60, especially women. This is an indolent NHL, so it is slow evolution.

Functioning of the lymphoma of the marginal zone
They are due to the uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal B lymphocytes. In normal times, B lymphocytes provide an immune function by producing antibodies. Some also have a form of memory. Thus, these lymphocytes are able to produce the antibodies adapted to control the pathogens they have already encountered. It is these lymphocyte cells that are stored in a region of the lymph nodes: the marginal zone. The lymphoma of the marginal zone is therefore lymphoma which is due to the abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes in this zone.

Probable Causes of the lymphoma of the marginal zone
Several studies believe that these lymphomas are caused by autoimmune disorders related to diseases such as:

Hashimoto's thyroid;
Sjögren's syndrome (dry syndrome);
Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia.
Bacteria could also be involved, including:

The Helocibacter pylori;
Borrelia burgdorferi;
Campylobacter Jejuni;
Chlamydia Psittaci;
Hepatitis C virus.
Three broad categories of lymphoma in the marginal area
There are three subtypes of lymphoma in the marginal zone:

Lymphomas of the marginal ganglionic zone (or lymphoma B monocytoïdes) that do not represent more than 2% of all NHL;
The lymphomas of the marginal zone splenic (i.e. the spleen, which behaves like a large ganglion), the cells accumulating mainly in this organ as well as in the blood and bone marrow (the lymph nodes are spared); These lymphomas can also take the name of Splenic lymphoma to the city lymphocytes.
Lymphomas associated with the mucous membranes of the extra-ganglionic marginal zone, MALT lymphoma (or matome), which many cases reach organs such as the stomach, lungs or even eyes and which account for about 60% of the lymphomas of the marginal zone.
Note: In some cases, the lymphoma of the marginal zone may evolve and become a more aggressive form of lymphoma such as diffuse lymphoma with large B cells.

Symptoms specific to the lymphoma of the marginal zone
The symptoms of the lymphomas of the marginal zone differ according to the type of lymphoma considered:

The lymphomas of the marginal ganglion zone will essentially result in an increase in the volume of one or more lymph nodes, especially at the neck or armpits (but sometimes also in the thorax or abdomen). They remain however painless.
The lymphomas of the splenic marginal zone lead mainly to an increase in the volume of the spleen (splenomegaly) as well as anemia and thrombocytopenia (decrease in the number of blood platelets). They are also sometimes accompanied by a hepatomegaly (swollen liver).
The lymphomas of the MALT can cause symptoms at the level of the affected organ. For example, in the event of gastric impairment, burns or a feeling of heaviness can be found in the stomach.
Although they are rather rare, the general symptoms are the same as for the rest of the cancers:

Abnormal weight Loss
Anorexia
Weakness of the general state
Fever sometimes;
Abundant night sweats.