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Types of lymphoma
Lymphoma is not a single cancer, there are over 60 different types. Each type can behave differently and may require different treatment.
With thanks to Rob Lown, Consultant Haematologist, University Hospital Southampton for reviewing this article.
Lymphomas are grouped into Hodgkin lymphomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas depending on what the lymphoma cells look like under a microscope.
- Hodgkin lymphoma contains abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is any type of lymphoma that is not a Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is often considered a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma
Around
people are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (including CLL)
Around
people are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma can occur at any age, although most people diagnosed are between the ages of 15 and 34, or over 60. Hodgkin lymphoma affects slightly more males than females and can develop in people of any ethnic background. There are two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma, based on how they look under the microscope.
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma contains Reed-Sternberg cells which look like owl-eyes under the microscope. There are four subtypes of classical Hodgkin lymphoma; nodular sclerosis classical Hodgkin lymphoma, mixed cellularity classical Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and lymphocyte-depleted classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) contains a variant of Reed–Sternberg which look like pieces of popcorn under a microscope.
Lymphocyte
Reed-Sternberg cell (classical Hodgkin lymphoma)
Popcorn cell (NLPHL)
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Most common type of Hodgkin lymphoma; around
people are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL)
Approximately 1 in 20 people with Hodgkin lymphoma have NLPHL; around
people are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can affect people of any age, but most people diagnosed are over 55. However, some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma can affect children. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma affects slightly more males than females and can develop in people of any ethnic background.
There are over 60 different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further grouped based on:
- How fast the lymphoma cells are growing. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas that grow slowly are called low-grade (or indolent). Non-Hodgkin lymphomas that grow quickly are called high-grade (or aggressive).
- The type of lymphocyte they developed from. There are two main types of lymphocyte in your immune system: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). Either of these types can grow out of control and cause lymphoma to develop. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can therefore be grouped into B-cell lymphomas and T-cell lymphomas.
Some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are very rare. Others are more common.
Most common types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma based on number of people diagnosed per year in the UK.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Marginal zone lymphoma (splenic, nodal and extranodal)
Follicular lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphomas
Other large B-cell lymphomas
Burkitt lymphoma
T-cell skin lymphoma
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL)
Data sources The data used in this article are from Cancer Research UK and the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN). Data from Cancer Research UK is based on diagnoses made in 2016-2018, and data from the HMRN is based on diagnoses made in 2010-2019. The process of registering a cancer is complex and there are a number of processes in place to ensure the data is of a high-quality, so there is a delay before the data is complete enough to be published.
