Child T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

What is Child T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma?

Child T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the lymphatic system. T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is similar in etiology to acute lymphoblastic leukemia because lymphoblasts infiltrate nodal structures of the bone marrow, spleen, and central nervous system. A difference in this disease is that the tumor may present as a lump in some part of the body, with the most common location being in the abdomen. Occasionally, it may present as a lump in a lymph gland, bone, skin, thyroid gland or the tonsils.

Diagnostic testing, physical findings, and ICD-9-CM coding

Diagnostic testing: Diagnostic testing for child T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma includes blood and urine tests, surgical biopsy, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, ultrasound, MRI, CT, and PET scan.

Physical findings: Signs and symptoms of childhood T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma may be different depending on the location of the tumors. Common symptoms may include high fever for no known cause; night sweats; weight loss of more than 10% of body weight in a short period of time (within 6 months); enlarged liver and kidney; generalized weakness; painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach or groin; difficulty breathing; wheezing; and coughing.

Onset and progression

The childhood form of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is a disease of rapid onset and progression. In most cases, the disease has progressed to an advanced stage (stage III or IV) by the time of diagnosis. The prognosis depends on histology (structure of the affected tissue); extent of the disease; presence or absence of metastasis; the child’s age; and response to therapy.

What is the treatment?

Children with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma are treated with chemotherapy and radiation, usually following acute leukemia treatment protocols. Chemotherapy often includes intrathecal therapy (injection of chemotherapy into the spinal canal). Radioimmunotherapy is being researched as a possible treatment option."