Treatment
The standard treatment is surgery. Complete recovery is usually possible if the entire lymph node is removed during surgery. The risk of relapse may be greater in forms associated with fever or signs of inflammation.
In some cases, surgery is not possible or too risky, particularly when the lymph node is in a difficult position. In this case, it may be possible to try to reduce the size of the lymph node. There are several possible treatments, but the results are uncertain and variable (see “treatment” sheet):
- Corticosteroids
- Rituximab
- Siltuximab or Tocilizumab
- Cyclophosphamide
- Embolization, or the occlusion of the blood vessel which irrigates the lymph node by means of a probe inserted into this vessel by a specialist radiologist, may be carried out before surgery to make it easier or as stand-alone treatment if surgery is not possible.
- Radiotherapy is also an option. The results are promising, but it is important to assess the potential long-term risk depending on age, location and radiation field.
- For stable, non-symptomatic lesions, it would seem that simple monitoring may also be envisaged as an alternative to close monitoring.
Outcome
The general prognosis is excellent, with no impact on life expectancy.