Surgery for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Surgery is often used to get a biopsy sample for diagnosing and classifying non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is rarely used as a form of treatment.

When is surgery used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

In rare situations, surgery may be used to treat lymphomas that are confined to a single organ outside the lymph system.

One example is splenectomy. This is a surgery to remove the spleen. It may be used for splenic marginal zone lymphoma when the spleen is severely enlarged or when other treatments are not suitable.

For lymphoma that is confined to one area, radiation therapy is usually preferred over surgery.

Surgery to treat complications of NHL

Surgery may also be used to treat complications of treatment or complications of the lymphoma itself.

For example, surgery may be used if there is a bowel obstruction or perforation caused by lymphoma in the digestive tract.