What is Primary Hepatic Lymphoma?
Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that primarily originated from the liver cells of the body and remains limited to the liver cells and hilar lymph nodes. It is a rare tumour and accounts for only less than 1% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the liver.
What is Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of white blood cell cancer that results from the rapid and uncontrolled division of white blood cells called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are an important part of the body’s immune system that fights against the disease-causing agents of the body.
Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, however, certain hereditary and genetic mutations, HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus), Epstein-Bar virus infection, infection with hepatitis B virus, infection with hepatitis C virus and exposure to certain harmful chemicals and drugs are risk factors for primary hepatic lymphoma.
Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are
- Pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen
- Enlargement of the liver size
- Jaundice (yellowish discolouration of the skin and the eyes)
- Dark yellowish colour of the urine
- Persistent fever
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Constant fatigue
- Excessive sweating at night
Diagnosis
The following investigations help diagnose the disease and its extent. These are
- Complete blood count ( CBC)
- Blood coagulation profile (for example partial thromboplastin time PTT, international normalized ratio INR)
- Serum electrolyte levels
- Liver function tests (LFTs)
- Abdominal USG, CT scan, and MRI
- Immunohistochemical staining
Treatment
The selection of suitable treatment depends upon multiple factors like the size, number, and location of the tumour. Other factors are the overall performance of the liver or liver function, the presence or absence of the spread of the tumour to other parts of the body, the presence or absence of Liver cirrhosis, its extent, and the risk involved in the case of surgery due to extent of the cirrhosis. On behalf of the above-mentioned factors there are the following treatment options;
- Resection; surgical removal of the tumour along with some healthy tissues from the surroundings of the tumour to stop the spread of cancer in the early stage of cancer.
- Radiofrequency Ablation; is a non-surgical technique to kill and stop the spread of cancer cells in cases where surgery is not a suitable option.
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted immunotherapy
- Liver Transplantation: it is a surgical procedure through which a diseased liver is replaced by a healthy liver from a donor.
What Support can we Give for Primary Hepatic Lymphoma?
Primary Hepatic Lymphoma is rare cancer, meaning it is not as well known as other forms of cancer. Without a Ribbon is an Australian organisation that provides support for individuals who suffer from rare cancers. So, we provide a designated platform for Warriors to obtain information specific to their Rare Cancer. We also provide annual opportunities for our Warriors to meet and learn from each other. If you suffer from rare cancer such as Primary Hepatic Lymphoma, we can help and support you through your journey thanks to the generous donations we receive. Click the link below to sign up and become a Warrior today!
You can help us with your donation:
Without a Ribbon is a charity that works hard to aid those who suffer from rare cancers. You can help our cause in a variety of ways:
