What is the difference between lymphoma and hodgkins lymphoma

Published: July 6, 2015

Updated: November 6, 2019

  • Hodgkin lymphoma is a malignancy of lymphocytes marked by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, mature B cells that have become malignant.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is also a malignancy of lymphocytes and can be derived from B cells or T cells.
  • The diseases are different in numerous ways and often follow different courses of progression.

Although the diseases may sound similar, there is a lot of difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Both diseases are malignancies of a family of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which help the body fight off infections and other diseases. Hodgkin lymphoma is marked by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, which are mature B cells that have become malignant, are unusually large, and carry more than one nucleus. The first sign of the disease is often the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, by contrast, can be derived from B cells or T cells and can arise in the lymph nodes as well as other organs. (B cells and T cells play different roles in the body’s immune response to disease.)

The median age of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 60, but it occurs in all age groups. Hodgkin lymphoma most often occurs in people ages 15 to 24 and in people over 60. There are more than 60 distinct types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, whereas Hodgkin lymphoma is a more homogeneous disease.

What is the difference between lymphoma and hodgkins lymphoma
Lymphoma cells.

What are the symptoms of lymphoma?

The two forms of lymphoma are marked by a painless swelling of the lymph nodes.

Hodgkin lymphomas are more likely to arise in the upper portion of the body (the neck, underarms, or chest).

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can arise in lymph nodes throughout the body, but can also arise in normal organs. Patients with either type can have symptoms such as weight loss, fevers, and night sweats.

The diseases often follow different courses of progression. Hodgkin lymphoma tends to progress in an orderly fashion, moving from one group of lymph nodes to the next, and is often diagnosed before it reaches an advanced stage. Most patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

How is lymphoma treated? Is it curable?

Treatments vary depending on the type of disease, its aggressiveness, and location, along with the age and general health of the patient.

As a general rule, however, Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most treatable cancers, with more than 90 percent of patients surviving more than five years. Survival rates for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma tend to be lower, but for certain types of the disease, the survival rates are similar to those of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

New treatment approaches, including the use of therapies that spur the immune system to attack cancerous lymphocytes, are showing considerable promise.

What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Lymphoma means cancer of the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is a system of thin tubes and lymph nodes that run throughout the body. Lymph nodes are bean shaped glands. The thin tubes are called lymph vessels or lymphatic vessels. Tissue fluid called lymph circulates around the body in these vessels and flows through the lymph nodes.

The lymphatic system is an important part of our immune system. It plays a role in fighting bacteria and other infections. And it tries to destroy old or abnormal cells, such as cancer cells.

What is the difference between lymphoma and hodgkins lymphoma

What is the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

There are 2 main types of lymphoma. They are called Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Hodgkin lymphoma was named after the doctor who first recognised it. It used to be called Hodgkin's disease.

Hodgkin lymphoma has a particular appearance under the microscope and contains cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. NHL looks different under the microscope and does not contain Reed-Sternberg cells.

It is important that doctors can tell the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL. They are two different diseases and the treatment for them is not the same. 

There are more than 60 different types of NHL. They can behave in very different ways. Your doctor or specialist nurse will tell you about the type you have.

This video explains what lymphoma is and how it starts. And the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The video lasts just over 3 minutes. 

Transcript

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system.

There are two main types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma - or NHL.

The lymphatic system is part of our immune system it helps us fight infections.

Understanding how it works may help you to understand what lymphoma is.

The lymphatic system is made up of a number of different organs, including the bone marrow, the spleen and the thymus gland.

It’s also made up of thin tubes and lymph nodes which contain lymph fluid. 

Lymph nodes are sometimes called lymph glands.

The lymphatic system runs throughout the body.

The lymph nodes filter substances that travel in the lymph fluid.

They also contain lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps us to fight infections.

There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells.

They work in slightly different ways.

A lymphoma starts when the lymphocytes become abnormal.

The abnormal cells make more abnormal cells, which means you have many more lymphocytes than usual, but they can’t fight infections as well as they should.

These abnormal cells circulate around the lymphatic system and start to build up in the lymph nodes forming a lump.

You may notice swollen glands in your neck, your armpit, or your groin.

But they can collect in other parts of your body that you can’t feel, including your lungs, liver and spleen.

It's important that your doctor finds out which type of lymphoma you have – Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma as they are two different diseases.

The most common type of Hodgkin lymphoma is called classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

It starts in B cells and contains Reed-Sternberg cells.

So, finding out if these particular cells are present confirms it's this type of lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the more common type of lymphoma.

There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and they are grouped into either high grade or low grade.

High grade are faster growing and low grade NHL’s grow more slowly.

Your doctor will tell you the type of lymphoma you have and what this means for you.

It depends on the type of lymphoma you have as to what treatment you need.

You might have drug treatment, radiotherapy, or a stem cell transplant.

For more information about lymphoma, the tests you might have, and treatments visit cruk.org/ about-cancer/lymphoma

How does non-Hodgkin lymphoma affect the body?

If you have lymphoma, some of your white blood cells (lymphocytes) divide abnormally.

Normal white blood cells have resting time. But if you have lymphoma some of your white blood cells don't have any resting time. This means they divide continuously, so too many are produced. And they don't naturally die off as white blood cells normally do.

These cells start to divide before they are fully mature. So they can't fight infection as normal white blood cells do.

The abnormal white blood cells start to collect in the lymph nodes, or in other places such as the bone marrow or spleen. They can then grow into tumours and begin to cause problems in the lymphatic system, or in the organ in which they are growing. For example, if a lymphoma starts in the thyroid gland it can affect the normal production of thyroid hormones.

Where does non-Hodgkin lymphoma occur in the body?

Because the lymphatic system runs through your whole body, you can get NHL just about anywhere.

NHL usually starts in the lymph nodes. It is quite common to find it in the neck, liver or spleen. But it can also be found in other body organs, such as the stomach, small bowel, bones, brain, testicles or skin. Although very uncommon, it can also affect the eye.

Extranodal disease

About 1 in 4 people (25%) who have NHL have some lymphoma in an organ outside the lymphatic or bone marrow system. It is then called extranodal (or extralymphatic) disease.

What is the difference between lymphoma and hodgkins lymphoma

Other cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes

Most types of cancer can spread to the lymph nodes. But they are not lymphoma. Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymph nodes. 

For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpits it does not become lymphoma. The cancer cells that have spread to the lymph nodes are still breast cancer cells. So they are treated as breast cancer.

If your cancer has spread to the lymph glands (and is not lymphoma), you should look for information about that type of cancer.

B cell and T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

There are many different types of NHL. These types can be classified in several different ways.

One way is by the type of cell it started in. NHL begins in a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. Two types of lymphocyte can be affected – B cells and T cells. So you can have a B cell lymphoma or a T cell lymphoma. 

NHL in children

NHL is not treated in quite the same way in children as it is in adults. So while some of the information here is useful, you do need to be careful. We have separate information about NHL in children. 

How common is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Around 14,200 people are diagnosed with NHL each year in the UK. This makes it the 6th most common type of cancer in adults. 4 out of every 100 cancers diagnosed (4%) are NHL.

Who gets non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

It is more common in older people. Around 35 out of 100 (around 35%) of people diagnosed with NHL are aged 75 and over.

What is the difference between lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma?

If in examining the cells, the doctor detects the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin's. If the Reed-Sternberg cell is not present, the lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin's.

Which is more severe Hodgkin's or non

Is Hodgkin's worse than non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? The progression of Hodgkin's lymphoma is typically more predictable than that of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The prognosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma is also better than that of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

What is the most serious type of lymphoma?

Burkitt lymphoma is considered the most aggressive form of lymphoma and is one of the fastest growing of all cancers. But it is very rare, accounting for about 2 percent of all lymphoma diagnoses.

What are the 3 main types of lymphoma?

Types of lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma. Learn more about the two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma: classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. ... .
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ... .
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) ... .
Lymphoma in children and young people..