Staging is the process of determining the extent (spread) of the disease. Staging is very important because your treatment and the prognosis (chance of recovery) depend on the stage of your cancer. Physical exams, imaging tests (such as a CT scan), biopsies, and blood tests are used to determine stage.
Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are staged differently than the rest of the cutaneous lymphomas. They are grouped into overall stages of I, II, III, and IV, which may be further subdivided into A and B.
Stage I.
Thin patches or plaques on the skin. There are no tumors and no involvement of the lymph nodes.
Stage II.
There are few or no tumors. Lymph nodes may be normal or enlarged but are not cancerous.
Stage III.
Skin lesions cover at least 80 percent of the body; lymph nodes may be normal or enlarged but are not cancerous.
Stage IV.
Skin lesions may cover any amount of skin; lymph nodes may be normal or enlarged and may be cancerous; lymphoma cells may or may not have spread to other organs or tissues, such as the liver or spleen; there may be cancerous lymphocytes in the blood.
A TNM staging system, which is quite complex, is used for the other cutaneous lymphomas, including primary cutaneous follicle-center lymphoma.
- T describes how much of the skin is affected by the lymphoma (tumor)
- N describes the extent of the lymphoma in the lymph nodes
- M describes the spread (metastases) of the lymphoma to other organs
Biopsy
The removal of a sample of tissue or fluid that is examined to see whether cancer is present. This may be done with a large needle or through surgical removal of tissue or fluids.
Computed tomography
A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs.
A procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create three-dimensional (3-D) views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the tissues and organs show up more clearly. This scan may be used to help diagnose disease, plan treatment or find out how well treatment is working.
Imaging
In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as X-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) and radio waves.
Lymphocyte
A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and is found in the blood and in lymph tissue. The two main types of lymphocytes are B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and is found in the blood and in lymph tissue. The two main types of lymphocytes (white blood cells) are B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes make antibodies, and T lymphocytes help kill tumor cells and help control immune responses.
Lymphoma
Cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Cancer that begins in cells of the immune system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas. One is Hodgkin lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The other category is non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently. Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults, and prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and the type of cancer.
Prognosis
A statement about the likely outcome of a disease in a patient.
Spleen
An organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells and destroys old blood cells. It is on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach.
Stage
The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
Staging
Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from where it first formed to other parts of the body.
Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from where it first formed to other parts of the body. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the best treatment.