Mantle Cell Lymphoma with John P. Leonard, MD | Everything You Need to Know
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare, B-cell NHL that most often affects men over the age of 60. The disease may be aggressive (fast growing) but it can also behave in a more indolent (slow growing) fashion in some patients. MCL comprises about five percent of all NHLs. The disease is called "mantle cell lymphoma" because the tumor cells originally come from the "mantle zone" of the lymph node. MCL is usually diagnosed as a late-stage disease that has typically spread to the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow.
A diagnosis of MCL requires taking a small sample of tumor tissue, called a biopsy, and looking at the cells under a microscope. A blood test may also be necessary to measure the white blood cell count and certain proteins, which help to diagnose MCL. Other tests, such as a bone marrow biopsy and a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan may be used to confirm a diagnosis and to determine what areas of the body are involved by the cancer.
The Lymphoma Research Foundation is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted to funding innovative research and providing people with lymphoma and healthcare professionals with up-to-date information about this type of cancer.
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