What is head and neck lymphoma?
Lymphoma within the head and neck is cancer that develops in the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are commonly found within the main part of the body’s “drainage” system called lymph nodes, as well as in other kinds of body tissue. There are 600 lymph nodes in the body. Approximately 300 nodes are in the head and neck. Lymphoma is the second most common malignancy occurring in the head and neck area.
Lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While lymphoma primarily affects lymph nodes, it can also occur in non-lymph node tissue, this is known as extranodal lymphoma. Extranodal Hodgkin lymphoma is rare. A larger number — about 25 percent — of non-Hodgkin lymphomas are extranodal. Approximately 33 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphomas are found within the head and neck. Extranodal lymphoma can be found in various tissues such as tonsils, parotid gland, thyroid gland, tongue, paranasal sinuses, and nasal cavity.
Both types of Lymphoma have similar symptoms and for the most part will have a similar treatment plan, but vary in the ways that they respond to treatment.
Symptoms of lymphoma in the neck or head
The most common symptom of lymphoma in the head and neck is the development of painless and enlarged lymph nodes along the side of the neck. Other symptoms can include nausea and headaches. B cell lymphoma is associated with weight loss, night sweats, and fevers. Signs of non-lymphatic cancers of the head and neck can have more severe symptoms, including:
- Bleeding from the gums or the nose
- Swelling of the eyes
- Blocked nasal passages
- Numbness or paralysis in the face
How is head and neck lymphoma diagnosed?
Specialists at Penn Medicine and at Penn Ear, Nose and Throat use the latest tests and tools to diagnose Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the head and neck lymphoma diagnostic tests and tools include:
- Patient medical history
- Physical exam of lymph nodes in head and neck
- Blood tests
- Lymph node biopsy
- Imaging tests
- CT scanning of the head and neck
- Magnetic resonance imaging (for evaluating the brain or spinal cord)
- Positron emission tomography
Treatment for head and neck lymphoma
A unique collaboration between experts at Penn Medicine and Penn Ear, Nose and Throat, our lymphoma treatment team treats the entire individual — not just the disease — using a multidisciplinary approach
Lymphoma in the head and neck area is generally one of the more treatable cancers and will most likely never be treated with surgery.
Treatment for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the head and neck may include systemic chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. Immunotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant are also treatment options.
Treatment approaches will depend on the subtype, stage and whether the cancer is aggressive or indolent.
Survival rates are dependent on what type of lymphoma it is, where it is located, and how far it has spread beyond the initial nodal involvement. Lymphoma remains one of the more responsive cancers, and it is a good sign if the cancer is confined to the head and neck region.
Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.