
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, and they are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with the latter accounting for the majority of cases. Lymphomas can affect almost any part of the body, and while musculoskeletal involvement is rare, it can result in muscle weakness. This occurs when lymphoma affects the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, causing peripheral neuropathy, or when it affects the bone marrow, leading to anaemia and associated weakness. Lymphoma in the skeletal muscle, or skeletal muscle lymphoma, is a rare form of the disease, and it typically affects the thigh, upper extremities, calf, and pelvis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lymphoma type | Hodgkin, Non-Hodgkin (NHL) |
| Muscle weakness cause | Lymphoma affecting nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral neuropathy) |
| Muscle weakness symptoms | Numbness, pins and needles, pain, increased sensitivity, muscle twitches |
| Muscle weakness frequency | Rare, accounting for 1.4% of all lymphomas |
| Diagnosis | Biopsy, CT, MRI, PET-CT, ultrasonography |
| Treatment | Chemotherapy |
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What You'll Learn
- Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via peripheral neuropathy
- Muscle weakness may be a symptom of anaemia caused by lymphoma
- Muscular lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma that can cause muscle weakness
- Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via skeletal muscle lymphoma
- Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via lymphoma of bone

Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via peripheral neuropathy
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, and they are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with the latter accounting for the majority of cases. Lymphomas can arise in nearly any tissue, and while musculoskeletal involvement is rare, it is possible.
Skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma that most frequently affects the thigh, upper extremities, calf, and pelvis. It can lead to localized muscle wasting and weakness, as evidenced by a case study of a 25-year-old man who experienced painless muscle wasting and weakness in his right thigh due to systemic lymphoma with muscle infiltration.
Lymphoma or its treatments can cause nerve damage, resulting in peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to temporary or permanent damage to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which includes the sensory, autonomic, and motor nervous systems. The sensory nervous system carries information from the body to the brain, the autonomic nervous system controls "automatic" processes like heart rate and digestion, and the motor nervous system carries messages from the brain to the muscles to initiate movement.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain, typically starting in the hands and feet and sometimes progressing to the arms and legs. This can lead to difficulties with day-to-day tasks such as walking, driving, getting dressed, or sleeping. In the context of lymphoma, peripheral neuropathy can occur in several ways: lymphoma cells can infiltrate the nerves, lymphoma tumors can press against nearby nerves, or lymphoma can lead to an abnormal immune response where immune cells attack nerves or other healthy tissues.
Therefore, lymphoma can indeed cause muscle weakness via peripheral neuropathy, although it is important to note that not everyone with lymphoma will experience these symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy can also be a side effect of lymphoma treatments.
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Muscle weakness may be a symptom of anaemia caused by lymphoma
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, accounting for approximately 2% of all cancer diagnoses each year. They are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with the latter accounting for the vast majority of cases. Lymphoma can occur in almost any tissue, and while musculoskeletal involvement is rare, it can cause muscle weakness.
Skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma, most frequently affecting the thigh, upper extremities, calf, and pelvis. It is usually associated with a painful mass, but in rare cases, it can present as painless muscle wasting and weakness, as seen in a 25-year-old man with systemic lymphoma. This patient initially presented with weakness and wasting of the right thigh and was eventually diagnosed with skeletal muscle lymphoma through biopsy.
Muscle weakness may be a symptom of anaemia, which is a common complication of lymphoma. Lymphoma cells interfere with the production of healthy red blood cells, leading to anaemia. Additionally, lymphoma in the gut can cause bleeding, further contributing to anaemia. Anaemia itself can manifest as weakness, tiredness, dizziness, and palpitations, among other symptoms.
While muscle weakness is an uncommon presentation of lymphoma, it is important to consider it as a potential cause, especially when accompanied by other symptoms such as muscle wasting or systemic manifestations. Imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound play a crucial role in the evaluation and diagnosis of lymphoma involving the musculoskeletal system. Definitive diagnosis often relies on biopsy and histological analysis.
In summary, muscle weakness may be an indirect symptom of lymphoma due to the associated anaemia caused by the disease. However, in rare cases, lymphoma can directly involve skeletal muscles, leading to localized muscle weakness and wasting. A thorough assessment, including appropriate imaging techniques and biopsy, is necessary to establish the presence of lymphoma and its impact on muscle function.
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Muscular lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma that can cause muscle weakness
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, accounting for approximately 2% of all cancer diagnoses each year. They are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with the latter accounting for the vast majority of cases. While lymphoma typically arises in the lymph nodes, it can occur in nearly any tissue, including muscles.
Muscular lymphoma, also known as skeletal muscle lymphoma or primary muscular lymphoma, is a rare form of lymphoma, accounting for less than 2% of all lymphomas. It is most frequently associated with the diffuse large B-cell type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma overall. Muscular lymphoma typically affects older individuals, with an average age of presentation of around 70 years.
This rare form of lymphoma can affect any muscle but most commonly involves the thigh, upper extremities, trunk, calf, and pelvis. The initial symptoms of muscular lymphoma may include painless muscle wasting and weakness, as well as localized swelling and pain. In some cases, muscle enlargement with a focal mass or diffuse infiltration of the muscle may be observed.
Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and evaluation of muscular lymphoma. Ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) are commonly used modalities for detecting and characterizing muscular involvement. Definitive diagnosis often relies on histological and immunohistological analysis of biopsy samples.
While muscular lymphoma is uncommon, it is important to consider it in the differential diagnosis of localized muscle wasting and weakness, especially when accompanied by other suspicious symptoms or imaging findings. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely treatment and favourable outcomes.
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Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via skeletal muscle lymphoma
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, and they are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with the latter accounting for the vast majority of cases. While lymphoma typically arises in the lymph nodes, it can occur in almost any tissue, including muscles.
Muscular lymphoma accounts for approximately 1.4% of all lymphomas. Skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma, most frequently affecting the thigh, upper extremities, calf, and pelvis. It is usually associated with muscle swelling, limb pain, and edema, and it may occur as isolated lesions.
Skeletal muscle lymphoma can cause muscle weakness, as evidenced by a case study of a 25-year-old man who presented with painless muscle wasting and weakness in the right thigh. He was eventually diagnosed with systemic lymphoma with muscle infiltration. This case demonstrates that localized muscle wasting can be an initial symptom of skeletal muscle lymphoma.
Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and evaluation of skeletal muscle lymphoma. Ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) are commonly used imaging techniques. On imaging, skeletal muscle lymphoma may appear as swelling of the affected muscles with well- or ill-defined lesions. Definitive diagnosis is made through imaging-guided biopsy, followed by histological and immunohistological analysis of the sampled tissue.
In summary, lymphoma can cause muscle weakness through skeletal muscle involvement. Skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma, and its diagnosis relies on imaging techniques and biopsy. Muscle weakness, particularly when localized to a specific muscle group, can be an initial symptom of skeletal muscle lymphoma.
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Lymphoma can cause muscle weakness via lymphoma of bone
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, accounting for about 2% of all cancer diagnoses each year. They are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with the latter accounting for the vast majority (80-90%). Lymphomas can occur in almost any tissue, and extranodal disease is present in 25-40% of cases.
Musculoskeletal involvement is rare and is usually due to secondary spread, but it may also be the result of primary extranodal disease. Lymphoma of bone, or osseous lymphoma, accounts for 5% of extranodal lymphomas and 7% of all bone malignancies. It is a rare subtype of lymphoma that starts in the bones and bone marrow, affecting skeletal tissue. While many types of lymphoma impact the bone marrow and skeletal system, primary bone lymphoma is unique in that it exclusively affects these areas.
Primary bone lymphoma destroys healthy bone tissue, leading to chronic pain, which is the most common symptom. Tumor growth can also press on spinal bones, causing neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness.
Imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of lymphoma. Various imaging modalities, including radiography, CT, MRI, bone scintigraphy, and PET-CT, are used to fully evaluate lymphoma of the bone and musculoskeletal system. Definitive diagnosis of skeletal muscle lymphoma relies on histological and immunohistological analysis of samples obtained through imaging-guided biopsy. Treatment options for primary bone lymphoma include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to stabilize bones weakened by tumors.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, lymphoma can cause muscle weakness. Lymphomatous involvement of muscles has been reported to occur in only 1.4% of cases, with 0.3% occurring in Hodgkin lymphoma and 1.1% in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphoma that affects the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nervous system) can cause peripheral neuropathy, which can result in muscle weakness.
The most common local symptom is a swollen lymph node or nodes. Other symptoms include a cough, breathlessness, a feeling of pressure in the chest, loss of appetite, and dizziness. Lymphoma can also cause peripheral neuropathy, which can result in numbness, pain, increased sensitivity to touch or temperature, and muscle twitches.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, accounting for approximately 2% of all cancer diagnoses each year. Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of more than 50 subtypes, which are broadly categorized into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with NHL accounting for the vast majority (80-90%) of cases.









































