Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Introduction

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Highlights	Prognosis	Transplantation
Introduction	Treatment	Resources
Risk Factors	Chemotherapy	References
Symptoms	Biologic Therapy (Immunotherapy)	References
Diagnosis	Radiation

Lymph Nodes. In the lymph node, lymphocytes receive their initial exposure to foreign substances (antigens), such as bacteria or other microorganisms, which activate the lymphocytes to produce antibodies, immune system factors that target and attack specific foreign proteins (antigens). The size of a lymph node varies from that of a pinhead to a bean. Most nodes are in clusters located throughout the body. Important node clusters are found in the neck, lower arm, armpit, and groin.

Other Structures in the Lymphatic System. The tonsils and adenoids are secondary organs composed of masses of lymph tissue that also play a role in the lymphatic system. The spleen is another important organ that processes lymphocytes from incoming blood.

Click the icon to see an animation about lymph nodes.

Click the icon to see an image of lymph nodes in the head and neck.

Click the icon to see an image of the immune system structures.

Locations of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occur most often in lymph nodes in the chest, neck, abdomen, tonsils, and the skin. NHLs may also develop in sites other than lymph nodes such as the digestive tract, central nervous system, and around the tonsils.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas Categories

There are more than 30 distinct types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Lymphomas are categorized in a several ways:

As indolent (slow-growing) or aggressive (fast-growing). Indolent and aggressive lymphomas are equally common in adults. Aggressive lymphomas are more common in children. Aggressive lymphomas tend to be more curable than indolent lymphomas.
As arising from B cells or T cells. About 85 - 90% of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are B cell subtypes and 10 - 15% are T cell subtypes. This report focuses on B cell lymphomas.

B-Cell Lymphomas

Common types of B-cell lymphoma include:

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBLC). DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, accounting for about 30% of all NHL cases. It is an aggressive, fast-growing lymphoma that usually affects adults but can also occur in children. DLBCL can occur in lymph nodes or in organs outside of the lymphatic system. DLBCL includes several subtypes such as mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, and primary effusion lymphoma.