What is a mediastinal lymphoma?

Mediastinal lymphoma is a rare type of cancer. More popularly known as primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (or PMBL), it arises in a specialized organ of the immune system called the thymus. Mediastinal lymphoma or PMBL mostly affects young adults. It is a sub-type of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBC), which are the most common and aggressive types of all the lymphomas.

Lymphomas are the cancers of the lymphocytes, which are a type of immune cells. Both diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas affect B-lymphocytes of the immune system; however, the thymic mediastinal lymphoma has a better prognosis. Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas may also resemble another type of lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, in their characteristics.

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What is metabolic acidosis?

Metabolic acidosis refers to the clinical disturbance, in which body fluids become too acidic. Metabolic acidosis is not an illness itself, but a sign of an underlying disease process. Normally the body has several mechanisms to control the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the blood and tissue fluid around 7.4. However, when these mechanisms fail either due to an excessive buildup of acids or failure of alkalis (bases) to neutralize the acids, metabolic acidosis will ensure. It can be seen in a range of conditions ranging from kidney dysfunction to diabetes mellitus and even cancer. Metabolic acidosis is potentially fatal if left untreated.

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What is riboflavin?

Riboflavin or vitamin B2 is an essential enzyme. It is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and facilitates many metabolic reactions in the body. This non-toxic enzyme is important for producing energy in cells, functioning of other enzymes, and normal production of amino acids and fatty acids. Riboflavin is also necessary for the production of glutathione, which is a very important anti-oxidant used by the body for blocking free radical damage.

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What is osteoma cutis?

Osteoma cutis refers to the presence of bone within the skin. It is considered to be a type of cutaneous ossification, which means formation of bone tissue in the skin. However, osteoma cutis can easily be differentiated from other types of cutaneous ossification. Sometimes calcium deposits within the skin may also be mistaken for osteoma cutis. However, the lesions of osteoma cutis represent abnormal bone formation within the skin, whereas calcium salt deposition in the skin (calcinosis cutis) does not include formation of bone.

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What is hairy cell leukemia?

Hairy cell leukemia (abbreviated as HCL) is a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In this form of cancer, certain types of white blood cells, called B-lymphocyte cells, are affected. Hairy cell leukemia is characterized by the uninhibited growth of these B-lymphocytes and low numbers of other normal blood cells. The abnormal cells have fine outgrowths on their surface giving them a hairy look when viewed with a microscope, which is the reason for the name of the condition.

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