Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a type of lymphoma. Lymphoma is cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is made up of organs, glands, tubelike vessels and clusters of cells called lymph nodes. It's part of the body's germ-fighting immune system.
There are many types of lymphoma. Lymphoma types are often divided into two categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Marginal zone lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Marginal zone lymphoma gets its name from the fact that the cancer starts in the marginal zone. The marginal zone is a part of the immune system where germ-fighting white blood cells live. These cells are called B cells, also known as B lymphocytes. In MZL, changes happen that turn the B lymphocytes into cancer cells. The cancer cells can grow in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, stomach, spleen and other parts of the body.
Marginal zone lymphoma is a slow-growing type of cancer. Treatment options for MZL may include treatment for infections, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapy and bone marrow transplant, also called bone marrow stem cell transplant.
Types
The types of marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) include:
Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (ENMZL). This type, also known as extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma), is the most common type of marginal zone lymphoma. Extranodal means outside of the lymph nodes. ENMZL most commonly happens in the stomach. This is known as gastric ENMZL. It is often linked to ongoing inflammation caused by infections, especially Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).ENMZL can be found in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, breasts, thyroid, salivary glands or eyes. Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma is a type of ENMZL found in the skin.
Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). This type of marginal zone lymphoma affects the spleen and may involve lymph nodes, bone marrow and blood. Some cases of SMZL have been linked to the hepatitis C virus.
Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL). NMZL is a rare type of marginal zone lymphoma that starts in the lymph nodes. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/marginal-zone-lymphoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20586112)