B-symptoms
Pronunciation: BEE SIM-toms
Constitutional symptoms including fever, night sweats, and weight loss that affect lymphoma staging and prognosis.
Full Definition
B-symptoms are a constellation of three constitutional symptoms used in lymphoma staging: unexplained fever above 38°C, drenching night sweats, and unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight within six months. The presence of B-symptoms upgrades the stage designation from 'A' (asymptomatic) to 'B' and generally indicates more advanced disease with worse prognosis. These symptoms reflect tumor burden and inflammatory cytokine release. Their presence influences treatment decisions and staging classification in both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize 'B' and hyphenate. Do not confuse with 'B-cell' symptoms.
In Context
- "The patient presented with B-symptoms including fever and 15% weight loss." — Initial assessment
- "Stage IIIB Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed based on extent of disease and presence of B-symptoms." — Staging summary