What Is the Survival Rate of Mantle Cell Lymphoma?

Mantle cell lymphoma may not cause symptoms during the early stages of the disease. When symptoms of MCL occur, they may include: 

• Lymph node swelling
  • Persistent
  • Usually painless 
• Digestive symptoms
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Indigestion
  • A feeling of fullness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Abdominal swelling or bloating
• Generalized symptoms (“B symptoms”)
  • Persistent or repeated fever
  • Sweating, particularly at night (night sweats)
  • Unexplained weight loss
• If MCL has spread to involve the bone marrow it may cause anemia 
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of energy
  • Pale skin (pallor)
  • Headaches
  • Easy bruising and excessive bleeding
  • Susceptibility to certain infections
• If MCL involves the digestive tract it may be associated with the development of multiple polyps within the intestines 
• Rarely, MCL may spread to involve the brain and spinal cord resulting in neurologic signs
  • Headaches
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Personality changes
  • Seizures

Mantle cell lymphoma is diagnosed with a patient history and a physical examination which may include palpation of lymph nodes in the neck, tonsil, and adenoidal regions, under the arms, and in the groin to detect swelling.

A biopsy of an affected lymph node or the bone marrow is also performed to help confirm a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma. 

Other tests used to evaluate the extent of the illness may include: 

• Blood tests 
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Liver enzyme studies
  • Renal function tests
  • Tests to measure levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
  • Calcium levels
  • Uric acid levels
• Imaging tests
  • X-rays 
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
  • Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 
• Endoscopy to look for polyps
• Other tests to evaluate the functioning of the heart and lungs

Mantle cell lymphoma is often diagnosed once it has spread (metastasized) throughout the body, and it is considered a difficult cancer to treat. Treatment for MCL depends on the stage of the disease, the patient’s age, and their overall health. 

Treatment for mantle cell lymphoma includes: 

• Active surveillance, also called “watchful waiting”
  • The disease is monitored with regular checkups visits and testing and active treatment starts if the patient develops symptoms or signs the disease is progressing 
• Chemotherapy
  • Initial treatment for aggressive MCL in younger patients usually includes chemotherapy, typically in combination with the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan), followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in which patients receive their own stem cells
• Proteasome inhibitor
  • Bortezomib (Velcade) 
• Transplantation
  • Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in which patients receive stem cells from a donor