Causes | Lymph gland cancer

Causes

Concrete causes for the development of lymph gland cancer are still unknown. However, it is assumed that several factors must coincide for malignant lymphoma to develop. In Hodgkin’s disease, abnormal B-cells are formed, whose task is normally the production of antibodies.

These cells belong to the group of lymphocytes and play an important role in the pathogen-specific immune defense of our body. The problem with these abnormal cells is that, unlike healthy B cells, they do not simply die off at some point, but, as giant multinucleated cells, continue to produce abnormal, not fully functional B cells. What causes the cells to degenerate in this way has not been finally clarified.

The influencing factors are, however, the following:

  • Various environmental influences
  • Genetic parameters
  • Disturbed immunological processes

In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the degeneration can affect all subtypes of lymphocytes, each of which is responsible for the defense against foreign organisms: In this lymph gland cancer, too, the causes are ultimately unexplained. However, the Eppstein-Barr-Virus (EBV), among others, is associated with this disease. However, about 90% of all adults have antibodies against this virus in their blood and must therefore have come into contact with it during their lifetime.

However, only a small percentage of them actually develop lymph gland cancer and conversely, there are also some patients without antibodies against EBV. Therefore, it is not the only trigger. You can find more information here: Epstein-Barr-Virus Other viruses such as HIV, as well as genetic influences, autoimmune diseases (such as Sjögren’s syndrome), chemical substances (for example insecticides) or bacterial infections (for example with the pathogen Helicobacter pylori) are also discussed as possible causes of the disease.

  • B cells (as in Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
  • T-cells
  • Natural killer cells (NK cells)

Diagnosis

It is not unusual for lymph gland cancer to be discovered by chance during a routine examination. The diagnosis begins with a detailed physical examination. Subsequently, a tissue sample (biopsy) of the swollen lymph node is taken and examined under a microscope.

In order to be able to estimate the spread of the cancer more accurately, various imaging techniques can be used: For example, on the one hand, it would be possible to detect the infestation of bone marrow or liver, and on the other hand, whether the cancer has already spread and metastases can be seen.

  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRT)
  • Skeletal scintigraphy
  • Positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Ultrasound

With the help of the histological examination of the removed tissue, it is in many cases possible for the physician to make an exact statement about the type and classification of the lymph gland cancer. Sternberg-Reed giant cells and Hodgkin’s cells, for example, are considered clear evidence of Hodgkin’s disease.

Liver and bone marrow are also tissues that can be considered for a biopsy. The blood count in Hodgkin’s lymphoma shows an absolute reduction in the number of lymphocytes, which are a subgroup of white blood cells. This reduction can only be detected in about a quarter of the patients in the early stages of the disease, in the late stages in almost all patients.

In about one third of the patients, the eosinophilic granulocytes, which also belong to the white blood cells, are also elevated. In addition, the blood sedimentation rate is increased, which is a non-specific inflammation parameter. In the case of non-Hodkin lymphomas, the main purpose of the blood count is to see whether there have already been changes in the bone marrow, which can be seen from the number of blood cells. In addition, special biochemical methods can be used to find out which non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is most likely to be non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In lymph gland cancer, ultrasound is mainly used to examine the abdominal cavity to look for enlarged lymph nodes along the large vessels.Lymph nodes in the areas of the neck, armpit and groin can also be examined using ultrasound, but there is no advantage here compared to palpation.