Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma
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Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is a rare type of cancer that affects the skin. It commonly causes symptom like a lump or lumps in the skin. This type of cancer grows slowly and rarely spread to other part of the body.
Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma usually starts in the B-lymphocytes which are white blood cells helping the immune system to fight infection.
The different types of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma:
- Primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma: appears on the head, neck, or trunk that looks like a reddish-brown, rash or lump. This type is a slow growing type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma
- Primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: looks like a lesion that is either pink or red, or tumor develops at the arms or trunk.
- Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type: this subtype frequently manifests as a tumor or many nodules on the trunk, legs, or arms.
- Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, other: this subtype is rare. It begins with the head, trunk, hands, and feet. This form of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is aggressive.
Symptoms
A lump or lumps in the skin are the primary symptom of B-cell skin lymphoma. The small, solid areas of the skin that look like a pimple is called papules. They grow into a plaque, which are thicker and flat, while larger lumps are sometimes deep red or purplish are called nodules or tumors. The head, neck, back, or legs are the areas where papules or nodules are most frequently found.
At some rare cases, people will experience other symptoms such as:
- Lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, or groin that are swollen.
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
Cause
The cause of Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is still unknown; however, specialists are aware that it usually begins in the lymphocytes of the white blood cells.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, the following procedures maybe recommended:
- Physical examination: assessment of the skin will be thoroughly conducted by the specialist to rule out cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.
- Skin biopsy: a sample of skin lesion is being removed for testing. A small portion of the skin sample will be sent to the pathology to check for lymphoma cells.
- Imaging tests:
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Computerized Tomography (CT)
- Blood test: this will be ordered by the specialist to test for any abnormalities that may linked to lymphoma cells.
- Bone marrow biopsy: a procedure in which a sample of bone marrow is removed and sent to laboratory for pathology testing to determine if abnormalities is linked to lymphoma cells.
Treatment
The treatment options for cutaneous B-cell lymphoma will depend on the specific type of lymphoma. Treatment options will be discussed with the specialist:
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a powerful energy beams are used in radiation therapy to eliminate cancer cells. Protons and X-rays are two of the energy sources used in radiation. It can be used alone to treat the cancer and occasionally applied after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
Surgical removal of the cancer
Surgical excision is a procedure to remove the cancer and part of the surrounding healthy tissue may be suggested by the doctor. If patients only have a small amount of cutaneous lymphoma, such as a single or a few areas, this might be an option.
Targeted Drug Therapy
The drugs used in targeted therapy target specific compounds found in cancer cells. Targeted drug therapies kill cancer cells by blocking these substances. Cutaneous lymphoma can be treated with targeted treatment medicines injected into the cancer or administered intravenously.
Medication
The cancer may occasionally be injected with medication. One instance is the use of steroids. A slow-growing form of cutaneous lymphoma may use this treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medications containing chemicals that kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be applied to the skin to treat cutaneous lymphoma. It can also be administered through a vein. In case the cancer is advanced or growing quickly, this treatment option might be used.
