Large Cell Lymphomas

Large Cell Lymphomas (LCL) are typically aggressive (fast growing) cancers of either the B-cells or T-cells. They are one of the most common types of lymphoma, accounting for 31% of all non-Hodgkin’s diagnoses. Approximately 79% of cases are B-cell cancers, 16% are T-cell cancers, and the remaining 5% come from an unidentifiable origin. These diseases often affect the elderly population, but they can also affect children.

Large Cell Lymphomas are all grouped and classified together because of similarities in the cell mutations and markers. They also present with the same types of symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes.

Since these cancers are typically aggressive, they can spread to many different areas in the body. Tumors may develop either in the lymph nodes or other lymph tissue and then spread to the bone, central nervous system, liver, lungs, spleen, testes, thyroid, or gastrointestinal tract.

Diagnosis and Staging

Diagnosis and staging differs slightly for each subtype of LCL. However, blood work, bone marrow biopsies, X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and ultrasounds may be used for diagnosis and staging in all cases. Staging depends on the location and spread of the disease, with the lower stages typically contained in one area of the lymph nodes and the later stages marked by spread throughout the body. For more information, including treatment options, see the following articles:

Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma
Follicular Large Cell Lymphoma – see Follicular Lymphomas
Large Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma
T-Cell Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)

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The Zevalin radioimmunotherapy regimen is now approved for certain types of NHL.

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