| Examined under the microscope, the | | | | is diagnosed more frequently in women. |
| Mantle cell lymphoma appears as an | | | | This type of cancer has the shortest |
| expansion of the mantle zone area of the | | | | average survival of all lymphomas. |
| lymph nodes.It is represented by a | | | | Nowadays the cause of MCL is unknown. It |
| homogenous population of malignant small | | | | has many symptoms that appears in other |
| lymphoid cells, which are cancerous | | | | lymphomas too. Patients generally |
| cells that travel from the bone marrow | | | | complain of fatigue, low grade fevers, |
| to the lymph nodes and spleen. They are | | | | night sweats, weight loss, anemia, |
| different from the normal lymphocytes, | | | | rashes, digestive disturbances, chronic |
| they are not mature properly. Mantle | | | | sinus irritation, recurrent infections, |
| cell lymphoma is a rare type of Non- | | | | sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle |
| hodgkin's lymphoma. | | | | and bone aches and edema. A more |
| The lymphocytes are white blood cells | | | | specific symptom is the spleen |
| produced by the immune system of the | | | | enlargement. This clinical aspect is |
| human body. Regarding their origin, | | | | present especially in the nodular type |
| there are two types of immune cells, the | | | | of MCL. An early stage is the swollen |
| B cells which are made in the bone | | | | lymph nodes. At the beginning this has |
| marrow and the T cells which are made in | | | | no explanation because the general |
| the thymus. After they are made they are | | | | health of the patient is good. Anemia is |
| eliminated in the lymph which is a clear | | | | another syptom that characterizes MCL, |
| liquid that bathes tissues and | | | | but it is a mild type of anemia. Some |
| circulates in the lymphatic system. The | | | | patients can also report lower back pain |
| lymphatic system in the place where | | | | and burning pain in the legs and |
| occur the cancers known as lymphomas. If | | | | testicles. In an advanced stage of the |
| the B cells are affected there can be a | | | | MCL the lymph nodes increase in volume, |
| Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which include | | | | the general health is compromised and |
| follicular lymphomas, small non-cleaved | | | | the symptoms become more pronounced. In |
| cell lymphomas (Burkitt's lymphomas), | | | | the end stage the MCL spreads to the |
| marginal zone lymphomas (MALT | | | | central nervous system and appear the |
| lymphomas), small lymphocyte lymphomas, | | | | neurological symptoms. |
| large cell lymphomas. In this category | | | | As MCL is very similar to several other |
| of diseases is included the mantle cell | | | | lymphoma types, imunologic tests are |
| lymphomas too. | | | | recommended for a correct diagnosis. One |
| At the beginning, the MCL cells develops | | | | of this kind of tests is |
| in limited areas. Regarding this aspect | | | | Immunophenotyping which determine what |
| there are three subsets of MCL cells: | | | | kind of surface molecules are present on |
| the mantle zone type, the nodular type | | | | cells, and which is the exact type of |
| and the blastic or immature type. In the | | | | lymphoma, from a tissue sample. |
| most cases these various types develop | | | | When the diagnosis is sure it must be |
| together and the diagnoses are of mixed | | | | known that mantle cell lymphoma has |
| mantle and nodular type. During the | | | | already spread into many other tissues |
| development of the MCL the non-cancerous | | | | such as the lymph nodes, spleen, bone |
| mantle centers also become invaded by | | | | marrow or to the ring of adenoid, |
| cancerous cells. In about 20% of these | | | | palatine and lingual tonsils at the back |
| cases, the cells become larger and they | | | | of the mouth or even to the |
| are imature ones. | | | | gastrointestinal tract. If the MCL |
| As it is initially slow-growing, this | | | | spread to the colon it is diagnosed as |
| type of cancer it was first believed to | | | | multiple lymphomatous polyposis. |
| be a low-grade cancer, but the average | | | | The treatment for MCL is established |
| survival rate it was substantially | | | | depending on the type of MCL and it |
| shortened. Because of the mixed nature | | | | stage. |
| of MCL cells, specialists tend to give | | | | There is no standard treatment for MCL |
| this disease a new classification. The | | | | patients. The patients diagnosed with |
| presence of the blastic type of cells | | | | MCL have been treated with surgery, |
| is considered as a high-grade cancer | | | | radiation, single drug or combination |
| because it spreads at about the rate of | | | | chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. |
| other lymphomas belonging to that | | | | The most common chemotherapy regimens |
| category. It is very important to | | | | for treating MCL includes the drugs: |
| describe the precise nature of these | | | | Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan, neosar), |
| cells, because this may help specialists | | | | adriamycin (doxorubicin or |
| involved in the study of MCL to get to | | | | Hydroxydoxorubicin), vincristine |
| an agreement. | | | | (Oncovin), and Prednisone and it is |
| Mantle cell lymphoma affects persons | | | | called CHOP. |
| with ages between 50 - 70 years and it | | | | |