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The lymphomas: an update for surgeons
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ, USA.
Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Chemotherapy and radiation are the primary treatments for lymphomas. Surgeons now primarily perform biopsies and place venous access lines, with surgery rarely used for localized non-Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system.
- Treatment has shifted from surgical interventions to systemic therapies like chemotherapy and radiation.
- Hodgkin's lymphoma historically involved surgical staging, but this is now obsolete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the current surgical role in lymphoma management.
- To differentiate the surgical approach for Hodgkin's lymphoma versus non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- To highlight the primary functions of surgeons in current lymphoma care.
Main Methods:
- Review of current oncological and surgical practices for lymphoma.
- Analysis of the historical and evolving role of surgery in lymphoma treatment.
- Description of common surgical procedures for lymphoma diagnosis and management.
Main Results:
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the predominant treatments for most lymphomas.
- The surgeon's role is now mainly limited to tissue biopsy for diagnosis and venous access.
- Surgical extirpation may benefit a small subset of patients with localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Conclusions:
- The surgical role in lymphoma therapy has significantly diminished.
- Current surgical interventions focus on diagnosis and supportive care rather than primary treatment.
- Systemic therapies remain the cornerstone for managing both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.