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