Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - Types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be slow-growing or fast-growing. These are very different cancers with different treatments.

Our information is for adults who have a kind of fast-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. There are many other types of fast-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Your type depends on what kind of lymphocyte turned cancerous.

There are three types of lymphocyte.

B cells (or B lymphocytes): The B stands for bone marrow. This is where B cells are made. They stay here until they are fully grown (or mature).
T cells (or T lymphocytes): The T stands for

thymus
The thymus is a lymph gland in your chest. It makes certain types of blood cells called T cells. These cells help you fight infections.

thymus. This is where T cells grow.
Natural killer cells: These are sometimes called NK cells for short.

Here's what we know about the types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Most types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including both fast-growing and slow-growing types, start in B cells. These types of cancer are called B-cell lymphomas.
The most common type of fast-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It is called this because it's made of B cells that look big under a microscope.
About 1 in 7 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas start in T cells. These are called T-cell lymphomas.
The most common type of fast-growing T-cell lymphoma is T anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

Below is a list of all fast-growing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas:

Source:
Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Diebold J, et al.
The World Health Organization classification of neoplasms of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues: report of the Clinical Advisory Committee meeting: Airlie House, Virginia, November, 1997.
Hematology Journal. 2000; 1: 53-66.

Adult T-cell lymphoma
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Enteropathy type T-cell lymphoma
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma
Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified
Precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma
Precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma
Primary effusion lymphoma
Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma
T anaplastic large-cell lymphoma

Our information is for adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. If you have a lymphoma that is not diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, some of the information here will not apply to you. You might need special, different or more intensive treatment that is not covered here.

If you're not sure what kind of lymphoma you have, check with your doctor.

Sources for the information on this page:

Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Diebold J, et al.The World Health Organization classification of neoplasms of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues: report of the Clinical Advisory Committee meeting: Airlie House, Virginia, November, 1997.Hematology Journal. 2000; 1: 53-66.

This information was last updated on Jan 08, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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