Which department do you go to for lymphoma?

Written by Zhou Zi Hua

Oncology

Updated on September 02, 2024

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If a lump is found on the neck and lymphoma is suspected, the first step is to consult with the head and neck surgery department. The lymphoma lesion will be surgically removed by the department, and then sent for a pathological examination. If lymphoma is confirmed, the next steps involve treatment by the oncology department, hematology department, or radiation therapy department.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

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The difference between lymphoma and lymphatic cancer

Cancer, commonly referred to as malignant tumors in everyday language, is generally known to the public simply as cancer—for example, lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, etc. It specifically refers to malignant tumors that occur in epithelial tissue, which we call cancer. Lymphoma, on the other hand, refers to malignant tumors that occur in lymph nodes, or in extranodal organs or tissues, which we call lymphoma. There are also malignant tumors that occur in mesenchymal tissue, known as sarcomas. In fact, lymphoma is also a type of malignant tumor, so people commonly refer to it as lymphatic cancer. Therefore, lymphoma and lymphatic cancer are essentially the same disease, with lymphatic cancer specifically referring to lymphoma.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

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How is lymphoma diagnosed?

Most lymphoma patients initially present with painless swelling of superficial lymph nodes. The first examination typically includes an ultrasound of these superficial lymph nodes. If the ultrasound suggests a high probability of malignancy, a lymph node excision biopsy can be performed. A lymph node excision biopsy and subsequent pathological confirmation is the gold standard for diagnosing lymphoma. Furthermore, it is common for lymphoma patients to undergo PET-CT scans, which are used to determine the stage at initial diagnosis and to assess the effectiveness of treatment after therapy.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le

Hematology

48sec

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How to rule out lymphoma in children

Lymphoma is a malignant tumor originating from the lymphatic system. The main clinical manifestation is painless lymph node enlargement, which can occur in superficial lymph nodes such as in the neck, armpits, or groin, as well as deeper lymph nodes in the mediastinum or abdominal cavity. In pediatric patients with lymphoma, a significant number also present with abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, or intussusception, which often indicates intestinal lymphoma. If children exhibit lymph node enlargement or deep lymph node enlargement is discovered through imaging studies, it is necessary to perform a puncture or biopsy and conduct a pathological examination to further confirm whether it is lymphoma.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

45sec

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The pattern of fever in lymphoma

Fever symptoms are quite common in patients with lymphoma, which we refer to as B symptoms. The pattern of their fevers is primarily low-grade, occurring more frequently in the afternoon or evening. Unlike ordinary bacterial infections, fevers in these patients do not respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs, but they do respond better to steroid treatment for reducing fever. However, if the lymphoma is not under control, their fever will repeatedly recur. Corresponding cooling treatments can reduce the temperature, but the fever will reoccur repeatedly. Only when the lymphoma and tumor are under control will the fever symptoms start to improve.

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Written by Peng Li Bo

Oncology

33sec

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Is lymphoma contagious?

Lymphoma is not contagious, as it is not an infectious disease but a tumoral disease. Therefore, it is not contagious, and when seeking medical treatment for lymphoma, patients do not go to the department of infectious diseases. Typically, treatment is conducted in the oncology department or in the hematology department specializing in lymphoma. Thus, lymphoma is not contagious because it is not caused by an infectious pathogen. It is a solid tumor that is tangible and visible.