Lymphoma

Overview

Mayo Clinic specialists treat all types of lymphoma, a malignant disease of the lymphatic system, including Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect the spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow, but can also involve almost any organ. Mayo Clinic patients have access to all the standard treatments currently available for the many different forms of lymphoma. Patients may also wish to participate in clinical trials of new investigational treatments for some forms of lymphoma. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has named Mayo Clinic Cancer Center a comprehensive cancer center, and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center collaborates with NCI on many clinical trials.

Diagnosis

Experienced specialists work with each patient. A physician who suspects lymphoma will interview the patient to get a medical history, conduct a physical examination, and order diagnostic tests such as blood and urine tests, an imaging study, and a biopsy. The tests can confirm a diagnosis of lymphoma and determine the subtype and stage of the disease.

Treatment Options

Patients' treatment options depend upon the form of lymphoma that is diagnosed.

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma has about 30 forms, some of which include:
  • diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
  • chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and the related small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
  • cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which occurs in two main types, mycosis fungoides and Sezary lymphoma
  • follicular lymphoma
  • marginal zone lymphomas
  • peripheral T-cell lymphomas
  • mantle cell lymphoma
  • primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma
  • Burkitt lymphoma
  • lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma (which includes Waldenström's macroglobulinemia)
• Hodgkin lymphoma (also called Hodgkin disease)