The key difference between lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma is that lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer that mainly occurs in the bone marrow and blood, while lymphoma is a blood cancer that mainly occurs in the lymph nodes and other tissues.
Blood cancers, also known as hematologic cancers, normally start in the bone marrow. Blood cancers generally occur when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, interrupting the function of normal blood cells: fight off infection and produce new blood cells. There are three main types of blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lymphocytic Leukemia
3. What is Lymphoma
4. Similarities – Lymphocytic Leukemia and Lymphoma
5. Lymphocytic Leukemia vs Lymphoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lymphocytic Leukemia vs Lymphoma
What is Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer that mainly occurs in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes immune cells in the bone marrow to become cancerous and spread to the bloodstream and organs. Lymphocytic leukemia affects lymphoid cells (lymphocytes) that form the lymphatic tissue. The lymphatic tissue makes up the immune system. There are two main types of lymphocytic leukemia: acute and chronic.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It can also be present in adults. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more common in adults, and they may feel well for years without treatments. The symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukemia include tiredness, light-headedness, pale skin, body aches, headaches, vomiting, and loss of appetite. The symptoms present in chronic lymphocytic leukemia include pale skin, recurring infections, easy bleeding or bruising, fevers, night sweats, spleen enlargement, liver enragement, enlarged lymph nodes, bone or joint pains. Moreover, acute lymphocytic leukemia is caused by a translocation involving chromosomes 9 and 22. On the other hand, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is caused due to deletion of chromosomes 13, 11, or 17.
Figure 01: Lymphocytic Leukemia
Lymphocytic leukemia can be diagnosed through physical examination, medical history, blood testing, and chromosome testing. Furthermore, the treatment options for lymphocytic leukemia include medications (acalabrutinib, alemtuzumab, arzerra, bendamustine, etc.), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and stem cell transplants.
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a blood cancer that mainly occurs in lymph nodes and other tissues. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the germ-fighting network of the body. There are two main types of lymphomas: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The signs and symptoms of lymphoma include painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and itchy skin. Lymphoma is caused by genetic mutations in lymphocytes, which are due to exposure to radiation and certain types of chemicals like benzene and Epstein-Barr virus or HIV.
Figure 02: Lymphoma
Moreover, lymphoma can be diagnosed through physical examination, lymph node biopsy, blood tests, removing a sample of bone marrow for testing, and imaging testing (CT scan MRI, and PET scan). Furthermore, treatments for lymphoma may include active surveillance, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, and immunotherapy drugs (chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy).
What are the Similarities Between Lymphocytic Leukemia and Lymphoma?
- Lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma are two different types of blood cancers.
- In both cases, white blood cells called lymphocytes are affected.
- Both blood cancers can cause life-threatening complications.
- They can be diagnosed through tests like blood tests.
- They can be treated through specific drugs, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
What is the Difference Between Leukemia and Lymphoma?
Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer that mainly occurs in the bone marrow and blood, while lymphoma is a blood cancer that mainly occurs in the lymph nodes and other tissues. Thus, this is the key difference between lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma.
The below infographic presents the differences between lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Leukemia vs Lymphoma
Blood cancers normally start in the bone marrow, where the blood is produced. Blood cancers occur when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control. Lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma are two types of blood cancers. Lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer that mainly occurs in the bone marrow and blood, while lymphoma is a blood cancer that mainly occurs in the lymph nodes and other tissues. So, this summarizes the difference between lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma.
Reference:
1. “Acute vs. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Differences and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Lymphoma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Chronic lymphocytic leukemia” By VashiDonsk at the English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Diagram showing stage 1 Hogkin’s lymphoma CRUK 191 pl” By FæCancer_Research_UK_uploaderderivative work: M1llx (zgłoś błąd) – This file was derived from: Diagram showing stage 1 Hogkin's lymphoma CRUK 191.svg (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia