What Is T Cell Lymphoma?
T cell lymphomas are a specific type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that involves the proliferation of cancerous T cell lymphocytes within the lymphatic system. Of the two main types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas--B cell and T cell lymphomas--T cell lymphomas are much less rare. These cancers can affect undifferentiated and mature T cells, and can be treated with a number of methods.
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T cells
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T cells, also known as T lymphocytes, are one of the two main types of white blood cells present in the lymphatic tissue of the body. T cells play an important role in the immune system. They are responsible for finding and destroying cells that have been infected with viruses and for protecting the body from harmful bacteria and fungi. It is also thought that T cells help regulate and monitor the activity of other immune cells.
T cell lymphoma
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T cell lymphoma occurs when the T cells being produced by the lymphatic tissue are defective, become cancerous, proliferate rapidly and spread throughout the body. The two main forms of T cell lymphoma are precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, which affects immature T cells, and peripheral T cell lymphoma, which affects mature T cells. While the cause of many cases of T cell lymphoma remains unknown, the Human Lymphotropic Virus-1 (HTLV-1) has been identified as causing a particular form of the condition in mature T cells.
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Precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma
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Precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma is a rare and aggressive form of T cell lymphoma that affects T lymphocytes that are not yet fully mature. This form of the condition commonly begins in the thymus gland, located directly behind the sternum in the chest. If a tumor develops in the thymus gland, the individual can suffer from a number of symptoms involving the chest, including pain and difficulty breathing.
Peripheral T cell lymphoma
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Peripheral T cell lymphoma affects T cells that have matured. Like the precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, it is also an extremely rare form of lymphoma. Peripheral T cell lymphoma can take a variety of forms, including ones that affect the skin, the nasal passages, the spleen, or the intestinal tracts of individuals with gluten allergies.
Treatment
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Both main types of T cell lymphomas can be effectively treated with combinations of chemotherapy drugs. Some combinations involve three or more different types of chemotherapy medication, all geared to target and to kill the rapidly dividing abnormal T lymphocytes. As with all types of cancer, early detection and prompt treatment is essential in controlling T cell lymphoma. Most forms respond very well to treatment in the early phases of the disease, but much less so after they have spread throughout the body.
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