What Are The Symptoms and Diagnosis of Lymphoma In The Lungs?

This entry looks at Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the lungs, clinically known as pulmonary lymphoma, one of the subtypes of lymphoma. 'Lymphoma' is an umbrella term that loosely refers to several dozen independent categorical types and subtypes of cancers of the lymphatic system. When lymphoma begins in the lungs, it is called primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL).

Lymphoma in the Lungs Symptoms and Diagnosis

More often than not, lymphoma in the lungs causes no discernable symptoms and is found incidentally when a chest X-ray shows an anomaly. When a person with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the lungs, whether primary or secondary, does have symptoms, they might include:

Fevers
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chest pain
• An unexplained cough
• Hemoptysis (coughing up a little blood)
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)

Lymphoma in the Lungs Treatment and Prognosis

Typical treatment for lymphoma in the lungs is to hit it with combination, doxorubicin and Rituxan-based chemotherapy—namely R-CHOP. However, the optimal treatment for lymphoma in the lungs has not been determined, most likely because the lung disease is so rare. Lymphoma in the lungs can be either indolent or aggressive, but it is more commonly an indolent disease, and therefore the median survival times for these patients between 8 and 10 years.

Click here for a more detailed look at primary pulmonary lymphoma.