Is diffuse lymphoma hereditary?

Lymphoma is one of the most common tumors in the world today. Its cause and mechanism are still unclear. In recent years, the number of lymphoma patients in our country has been increasing. Is diffuse lymphoma hereditary? This has always been a concern for people. Here is an introduction to this issue.

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma refers to a morbid neoplasm formed by excessive proliferation or abnormal differentiation of developing or mature normal lymphocytes, tissue cells and reticular cells in the human body's lymphatic reticular tissue under the action of pathogenic factors. It is medically called a malignant solid tumor originating from the lymphatic system. The human lymphatic tissue has immune function. Therefore, according to the definition of modern medicine, lymphoma can also be regarded as a malignant solid tumor of the immune system, referred to as lymphoma. The cause of its onset has not yet been elucidated. Because the lymphocytes and reticular cells in the lymph nodes are very abundant, the first symptom of lymphoma patients is often painless, progressive lymph node enlargement, which can be multiple or single. However, any part outside the lymph nodes, such as the spleen, gastrointestinal tract, etc., can also become the first site of lymphoma. Lymphoma that first occurs outside the lymph nodes is called extranodal lymphoma. If lymphoma involves the bone marrow or tumor cells enter the peripheral blood, it is called lymphoma with bone marrow invasion or combined with leukemia. Since lymphoma is a tumorous proliferation, its malignancy and course can vary greatly depending on the histological characteristics of the tumor, but their clinical manifestations are very similar. Can lymphoma be inherited?

In recent years, reports have shown that the onset of lymphoma may be related to genetic factors. It has been found that the brothers and sisters of young lymphoma patients have a 7-fold increased clinical risk of onset. Brothers may develop the disease one after another or at the same time, and twins may develop the disease in pairs. These phenomena suggest that autosomal recessive genetic mechanisms may be involved in the onset of the disease. Some scholars have reported that lymphoma is common in families with hereditary immunodeficiency. Other studies have shown that there is a certain regularity in the occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities in lymphoma patients, that is, there is an increase in genetic material in the long arm of chromosome 14. These studies all show that genetic factors may be an important potential cause of lymphoma. However, this only means that the hereditary nature of lymphoma is a potential possibility in the pathogenic factors of lymphoma, and it is by no means inevitable. Whether the family with lymphoma is caused by genetic factors, or by the common living habits, dietary characteristics, living conditions and other factors of the family, there is no conclusion at present. Therefore, if someone in the family suffers from lymphoma, there is no need to bear the burden of thought; otherwise, the increase in the incidence of lymphoma caused by unfounded fear and mental depression will far exceed the influence of family genetic factors.

Through the above introduction, everyone knows what lymphoma is and whether it is hereditary. I believe that everyone will feel much happier after reading this article, especially if there is someone in your family who has lymphoma. In fact, you don’t have to be afraid. As long as you maintain a good mental state and change your bad living and eating habits, you can control the occurrence of lymphoma.