Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma are these!

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma with obvious symptoms, mainly manifested as enlargement of superficial lymph nodes or the formation of nodules and lumps, lumps in deep lymph nodes in the body, hyperplasia and lumps of extranodal lymphoid tissue, and some systemic symptoms.

1. Superficial lymph nodes are enlarged or form nodules or lumps

It is the most common first clinical manifestation, accounting for about 60% to 70% of all cases, especially cervical lymph node enlargement (49.3%), followed by axillary and inguinal lymph nodes (each accounting for

12.9%, 12.7%). Lymph node lumps vary in size, are often asymmetrical, are firm and elastic, and are usually non-tender. In low-grade lymphoma, lymphadenopathy is mostly dispersed, non-adhesive, and easily movable. In invasive or highly invasive lymphoma, which progresses rapidly, the lymph nodes often fuse into clumps, sometimes adhere to the basement and skin, and may show local soft tissue infiltration, compression, and edema.

2. Deep lymph node masses in the body

It may cause corresponding symptoms due to infiltration, compression, obstruction or tissue destruction due to its occurrence in different parts. For example, masses in the mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes can cause clinical manifestations such as chest tightness, chest pain, dyspnea, and superior vena cava compression syndrome. Masses in the intra-abdominal cavity (mesenteric lymph nodes, retroperitoneal lymph nodes) can cause abdominal pain, abdominal mass, intestinal obstruction, ureteral obstruction, and hydronephrosis.

3. Extranodal lymphoid tissue hyperplasia and masses

It may also cause corresponding symptoms due to different parts of the body. At the initial diagnosis, approximately 21.9% of patients presented with simple extranodal lesions without superficial lymphadenopathy. The most common extranodal lesions are the pharyngeal ring, which manifests as enlarged palatine tonsils or a mass in the pharynx. The submucosal lymphoid tissue of the gastrointestinal tract may be invaded and cause abdominal pain, abdominal mass, gastrointestinal obstruction, bleeding, perforation and other symptoms. When the liver is invaded by lymphoma, it may become swollen and jaundice. Extranodal lymphoma can also invade the eye sockets, causing exophthalmos, unilateral or bilateral breast masses, and can invade the bone marrow, causing anemia, bone pain, bone destruction, and even pathological fractures. When the brain is invaded, it can cause symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as headache and visual impairment. The lesions can also compress the peripheral nerves and cause nerve paralysis, such as facial nerve paralysis. It can also invade the spinal canal, causing spinal cord compression and leading to paraplegia. Some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, particularly T-cell lymphoma, are prone to skin infiltration, nodules, or tumors. Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are specific types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. There is another type of extranodal lymphoma, namely nasal and nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma, formerly known as "midline necrotizing granuloma" and "angiocentric lymphoma". The most common clinical initial site is the nasal cavity, followed by the palate, nasopharynx and tonsils.

Since lymphoma can occur from lymph nodes (superficial and deep) and extranodal lymphoid tissue of various organs, and can invade various tissues and organs during its development, its clinical manifestations can be very complex and diverse. Lymphomas of different tissue types often have their own clinical characteristics.

4. Systemic symptoms

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may also have systemic symptoms, including general wasting symptoms such as anemia, weight loss, and weakness, as well as specific "B" symptoms (same as Hodgkin's lymphoma, including fever, night sweats, and weight loss). But in general, systemic symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are less common than those of Hodgkin's lymphoma and are more common in the later stages of the disease. In fact, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish whether the fever, night sweats and weight loss that are common in the late stage of the disease are the clinical manifestations of the disease, the consequences of long-term treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy), or the co-infection caused by impaired immune function in the late stage.