Lymphoma: Deciphering the "mutation code" of the blood system

Author: Han Bing, Chief Physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Reviewer: Zhang Yu, researcher at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

In the public's perception, the word "cancer" often makes people shudder, and lymphoma, as a relatively unfamiliar disease name, is often mistaken for another name for lymphoma. In fact, although lymphoma and lymphoma are related in medical terms, their accurate definition and classification are crucial for the precise treatment of the disease.

Lymphoma, a word that sounds a little unfamiliar, is actually a malignant tumor that originates from lymphatic tissue. In the medical community, there are strict regulations for naming tumors. Only malignant tumors that originate from epithelial tissue are called "cancers", such as gastric cancer and lung cancer. Lymphoma, as a tumor of non-epithelial origin, should be called lymphosarcoma according to the strict medical definition, but for the convenience of public understanding, it is usually referred to as lymphoma. This subtle difference in the name actually reflects the rigor of medical classification.

Lymphoma belongs to the category of blood system diseases. Its root cause is the malignant mutation of lymphocytes in the blood system. This mutation not only causes abnormal cell proliferation, but also may invade other tissues and organs of the body, seriously affecting the patient's quality of life. Therefore, a correct understanding of lymphoma is of great significance for early detection and timely treatment.

Figure 1 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

The classification of lymphoma is a complex and delicate process. With the deepening of medical research, its classification system is also constantly developing and improving. In the early days, lymphoma was simply divided into two categories: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hodgkin's lymphoma is further subdivided into lymphocyte-predominant type, nodular sclerosis type, mixed cell type and lymphocyte lytic type due to its unique pathological characteristics and prognostic manifestations. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more complex and diverse, including B-cell-derived lymphoma, T-cell-derived lymphoma and some rarer tissue cell-derived lymphomas.

Figure 2 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

This detailed classification not only helps doctors to more accurately judge the condition, but also provides strong support for precision treatment. For different types of lymphoma, doctors can develop personalized treatment plans, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and other comprehensive methods. In recent years, with the continuous emergence of new drugs and the continuous advancement of treatment technology, the treatment effect of lymphoma has also been significantly improved.

The occurrence of lymphoma is the result of the combined effects of multiple factors, including both individual genetic factors and multiple influences from the external environment. Gene mutation is one of the important internal causes of lymphoma. Everyone will experience a certain degree of gene mutation in their life course, but when these mutations accumulate to a certain extent and the body cannot effectively eliminate them, they may become the fuse of potential diseases. In addition, environmental factors such as radiation exposure, viral infection, and exposure to toxic substances may also increase the risk of lymphoma.

In daily life, although we cannot completely avoid these potential risk factors, we can reduce the risk of lymphoma through some effective preventive measures. First, maintain good living habits and eating habits, and avoid long-term exposure to toxic and harmful substances and radiation. Second, strengthen physical exercise to improve the body's immunity to resist the invasion of viruses and bacteria. In addition, for high-risk groups such as workers who are exposed to harmful chemicals for a long time, regular health checks should be carried out to detect and treat potential diseases in a timely manner.

It is worth noting that chemical ingredients such as p-phenylenediamine in hair dyes may also have adverse effects on the blood system and increase the risk of blood system diseases such as lymphoma. Therefore, when using hair dyes, you should choose carefully and avoid frequent or excessive use.