Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) refers to a group of cancers that develop in the body’s lymphoid system. Approximately 55,000 cases of non Hodgkins lymphoma cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been increasing in the U.S. at the rate of about 3% annually for the past 20 years.

Cancer of the lymphoid system was first described by a British physician by the name of Thomas Hodgkin. The type of cancer he described, which follows a very predictable pattern, is today known as Hodgkin’s disease. All other types of lymphoma cancers are generally referred to as non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.

The lymphoid system--a network of cells and channels that run through the body--is a very important part of the body’s immune system. The cells of the lymphoid system, called “lymphocytes,” are arranged in clusters called “lymph nodes” and “lymph glands.” The lymphocytes also circulate throughout the body to all the tissues of the body. Because these cells travel throughout the body, malignant lymphomas can start in just about any organ. At the time of diagnosis, a lymphoma may be present in a single lymph node or organ, or in many different sites of the body.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified close to 30 subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. These subtypes are generally categorized as “indolent” lymphomas, “moderately aggressive” lymphomas, and “highly aggressive” lymphomas. “Indolent” lymphomas typically involve lymph nodes, bone marrow, and/or the spleen. “Aggressive” lymphomas are most common in the lymph nodes, but many cases involve organs that are separate from the lymph nodes (referred to as “extranodal” cases).

There are two major types of cells comprising the lymphoid system. “B cells” are cells that make antibodies in response to infection. “T cells” regulate the immune system. While non-Hodgkins lymphomas can arise out of either type of cell, B cell lymphomas are most common in the U.S.

Symptoms of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Diagnosis of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Treatment of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

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Please also visit our glossary for helpful definitions of medical terms relating to the diagnosis and treatment of non Hodgkins lymphoma.