Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL) Staging

There are four total stages that contribute to Marginal Zone Lymphoma Staging (MZL). Staging is important to determine the most accurate prognosis. Stanford Medicine suggests that although staging helps determine prognosis, it does not usually determine therapy. Therapy for MZL is determined most by clinical signs and symptoms.

Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL) consists of a clutter of slowly growing NHL B-cell lymphomas and can be separated into three different subtypes, which are all CD19-constructive, CD20-positive, CD22-optimistic, CD5-unfavorable, CD23-adverse, and cyclin D1–negative. Combining clinical and pathologic knowledge of each MZL case is important to make an accurate analysis and provide the correct treatment.

Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL) consists of a clutter of slowly growing NHL B-cell lymphomas and can be separated into three different subtypes, which are all CD19-constructive, CD20-positive, CD22-optimistic, CD5-unfavorable, CD23-adverse, and cyclin D1–negative. Combining clinical and pathologic knowledge of each MZL case is important to make an accurate analysis and provide the correct treatment.

Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL) Types

In 2016, the World Health Organization categorized MZLs into three different types: Extradonal, Nodal, and Splenic.

Extranodal MZL or Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) is the most common and can develop either outside or inside the stomach, but is not limited to also affect the lungs, eyes, salivary glands, thyroid, or the small intestine. Nodal MZL or Monocytoid B-cell Lymphoma, is a less common type that occurs in the lymph nodes. The last type, Splenic MZL, is the rarest form and develops in the spleen, bone marrow, or sometimes both.

Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL) Staging

Treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, but it is dependent on the official MZL prognosis and its stage.

Staging and response assessments are most done through computer tomography (CT) imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of lymph node regions, which include the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis areas. Although less reliable, PET scans can sometimes be helpful in correctly identifying the specific MZL type.

When MZL can be found in the stomach or small intestine, it is of best practice to perform an Endoscopic ultrasound evaluation to determine the extent of the disease.

For more advanced cases, such as Stage 3 and 4, a bone marrow biopsy is also sometimes used to determine treatment options.

• Stage 1: In the first stage, MZL is limited to affecting a single lymphatic area.
• Stage 2: By the second stage MZL has spread to more than one lymph node on the same side of the diaphragm.
• Stage 3: The third stage constitutes of MZL having spread to several lymphoma nodes above and below of the diaphragm. In this stage, the condition is already considered advanced.
• Stage 4: In the fourth and final stage, MZL spreads to other organs.

It is important to understand what type and stage of MZL you are affected by to provide the best prognosis and treatment. Massive Bio can then become a resource to identify clinical trial matches that best suit your specific needs.