What is Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Answer 1

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a diverse group of cancers which arise from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. NHL is distinct from Hodgkin lymphoma in its pathologic features, epidemiology, common sites of involvement, clinical behavior, and treatment. The broad category of non-Hodgkin lymphoma encompasses diseases with varying courses, treatments, and prognoses.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is medically classified as a hematological malignancy, meaning that it is a cancer which arises from the blood. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma may develop in any organ associated with the lymphatic system, such as the spleen, lymph nodes, or tonsils. The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma requires a biopsy of involved tissue. The numerous subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are typically grouped into three distinct categories based on their aggressiveness. These categories are indolent (or low-grade), aggressive (or intermediate-grade), and highly aggressive (or high-grade). The treatment of indolent or low-grade lymphoma may initially involve a period of observation, while aggressive or highly aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Some forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured with chemotherapy, radiation, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

There were 55,216 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in the United States in 2005 (the most recent year for which statistics area available), and in that year, 20,873 people died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.