B symptoms

Q: Which of the following is not considered a part of B symptoms? (Except one)

A) Fever

B) Sweats

C) Weight loss 

D) Fatigue

Answer: D

B symptoms specifically refer to symptoms associated with lymphoma. It has a formal definition, which requires three components

1. Persistent temperature >38°C (> 100.4°F)

2  Sweats – particularly drenching night sweats

3. Unexplained weight loss of < 10 percent of body weight in last past six months

Lymphadenopathy is generally present. B symptoms become more prominent present as disease advances.

                                  

Fatigue, pruritus, and pain are not considered B symptoms.                   

#oncology

References:

                                  

1. Cheson BD, Fisher RI, Barrington SF, et al. Recommendations for initial evaluation, staging, and response assessment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the Lugano classification. J Clin Oncol 2014; 32:3059.

                                  

 2. Sharma R, Cunningham D, Smith P, Robertson G, Dent O, Clarke SJ. Inflammatory (B) symptoms are independent predictors of myelosuppression from chemotherapy in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) patients--analysis of data from a British National Lymphoma Investigation phase III trial comparing CHOP to PMitCEBO. BMC Cancer. 2009 May 18;9:153. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-153. PMID: 19450285; PMCID: PMC2689869.