Diseases

Milk cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Milk cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment / Diseases

Spleen tumors - sarcomas, lymphomas, spleen metastases

Cancers in the spleen can occur in the form of sarcomas, malignant lymphomas and splenic metastases. The prognosis for cancer is rather poor, but by no means all tumors in the spleen are malignant. Spleen tumors (splenomegalia), for example, can also be the result of infectious diseases, rheumatic diseases, liver cirrhosis or pancreatitis.

  • definition: Milk cancer is a colloquial collective term for various types of tumors in the spleen, such as sarcomas, lymphomas and spleen metastases.
  • symptoms: Many types of spleen cancer do not show clear indicators. Chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, increased susceptibility to infection, abdominal pain and nausea are among the possible symptoms.
  • diagnosis: After scanning, if suspected imaging techniques such as ultrasound, CT or MRI are used. If necessary, a tissue sample provides the clear result.
  • therapy: The treatment depends on the type of tumor. Frequently, surgery and / or radiotherapy are used.

contents

  • Spleen tumors - sarcomas, lymphomas, spleen metastases
  • definition
  • symptoms
  • Cancers in the spleen
  • Malignant lymphoma / lymphoma cancer
  • sarcomas
  • metastases
  • diagnosis
  • treatment

definition

"Spleen cancer" is the colloquial term for malignant tumors in the area of ​​the spleen, where experts speak of sarcomas, malignant lymphomas and spleen metastases. Theoretically, these cancers can occur anywhere in the body on corresponding tissue structures, so that the term is actually incorrectly spleen cancer. Because this suggests that it is an explicit disease of the spleen. For simplicity, the term "spleen cancer" will continue to be used.

Spleen metastases can develop in various cancers, including malignant lymphomas. (Image: joshya / fotolia.com)

symptoms

Characteristic of splenic cancer diseases is a conspicuous enlargement of the organ, which, however, can initially also run more or less asymptomatic. However, possible causative cancers (lymph node cancer, sarcoma, cancers with metastases) cause noticeable symptoms. Malignant lymphomas often show symptoms such as:

  • lymphadenopathy,
  • chronic fatigue,
  • anorexia,
  • night sweats,
  • a generally increased susceptibility to infection.

No clear indicators

However, none of these symptoms is a reliable indicator as they may also be associated with many other conditions. As the disease progresses, sufferers often suffer from discomfort caused by pressure on the surrounding tissue structures and organs due to the tumorous enlargement of the spleen. These complaints include:

  • stomach pain,
  • a feeling of pressure in the abdomen,
  • nausea,
  • radiating pain in the left shoulder.

Cancers in the spleen

Splenic cancers can be malignant (malignant) lymphomas, sarcomas and metastases of other cancers. The symptoms and the chances of recovery are very different in the different forms of the spleen cancer, so that here the individual forms are considered differentiated.

Spleen cancer includes lymphomas, sarcomas and metastases of other cancers. (Image: transurfer / fotolia.com)

Malignant lymphoma / lymphoma cancer

A common form of spleen cancer is malignant lymphoma, which is divided into Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These diseases, also known as lymph node cancer, are caused by malignant changes in the lymphatic system. In addition to the lymph nodes, lymph channels and tonsils (tonsils), the spleen also belongs to the lymphatic system.

Here an uncontrolled proliferation of lymphocytes (cellular components of the blood) and related cell types takes place. Although the lymphatic gland cancer often initially affects locally limited structures, in theory, however, tissue structures throughout the body may be affected, as the lymphocytes may spread through the blood and lymphatic systems. It is therefore a systemic disease, even if the lymph node cancer may be located in the spleen.

sarcomas

These malignancies, which originate from the connective tissue, can in rare cases also affect the area of ​​the spleen. There are many different forms of sarcoma, with the majority of angiosarcomas being blamed for spleen cancer. They start from the endothelium (thin wall layer of lymphatic and blood vessels) and are differentiated into hemangiosarcomas and lymphangiosarcomas. As a conspicuous symptom of sarcomas in the spleen area is often a bloated abdomen to watch, but these special cancers can run for a long time without noticeable symptoms.

metastases

Theoretically, every metastatic cancer can affect the lymphatic system and thus the spleen. In contrast to lymph node cancer, it is not the uncontrolled proliferation of lymphocytes that causes the complaints, but the immigration of cancer cells from metastatic tumors.

diagnosis

The palpation (palpation) forms a good start in the diagnosis of splenic tumors in the presence of suspicious symptoms, since enlargements of the spleen can often be felt here. Normally, the spleen should not be felt when palpating the abdomen. Larger splenic tumors, however, can be palpated when inhaled below the left costal arch. With the help of imaging techniques such as ultrasound examinations, computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography, the changes in the spleen are narrowed down more precisely. If a sarcoma, a malignant lymphoma or a metastasis is suspected, the subsequent removal of a tissue sample (biopsy) secures the diagnosis.

In the diagnosis of splenic tumors help imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

treatment

The treatment of the spleen cancer depends mainly on the underlying form of cancer and the stage of the disease. The healing prospects are very different. For example, many non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be completely eliminated with the help of chemotherapy, while in metastatic cancers, often only a delay in the course of the disease can be achieved.

Treatment for spleen metastases

Spleen metastases may also be preceded by chemo-splenectomy (surgical removal of the organ) to maximize the reduction of tumor tissue, thereby increasing the chances of successful treatment. Although those affected can then continue to live without spleen, they are subject to certain risks, such as an increased susceptibility to infection of certain bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and sinusitis. Furthermore, the risk of thrombosis increases after splenectomy.

Treatment in angiosarcomas

The radical surgical removal of the tumor tissue is also required in angiosarcomas, which can be additionally increased by a subsequent chemo- and / or radiotherapy treatment prospects. However, the overall prognosis for angiosarcomas is rather poor. The 5-year survival rate, for example, is given by cardiologists of the University Hospital Regensburg with 12 to 24 percent.

Influences on treatment prospects

The age and general condition of those affected and the timing of the diagnosis have a significant influence on the treatment prospects, so that the individual prognosis can be significantly better. In addition, cancers in the early stages generally treat rather successful than far advanced diseases. (fp, vb; updated April 10, 2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)