Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system as a result of an abnormal function of a form of white blood cell called lymphocytes. While normal cells die, making space for new ones, cells affected by lymphoma tend to expand, which explains why one of the first signs of the disease are painless, swollen lymph nodes. The reasons for this mutation is not entirely understood, but there are different origins that impact diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Lymphomas are generally classified as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is the most common form, or Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The different types of lymphoma affect cells differently and impact different types of lymphocytes. There are also a series of subtypes of lymphomas that grow at a specific pace and respond in a different manner to lymphoma treatment.

Characteristics of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Lymphocytes are an important part of the human immune system, protecting the body against germs. The main difference between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in the specific type of cells involved in each of the diseases. To determine the type of cancer, patients’ cells are analyzed under a microscope. In cases when Reed-Sternberg cells are detected, the disease is diagnosed as Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma does not involve Reed-Sternberg cells, which are large, multinucleated cells with a unique morphology and immunophenotype, and are different than other normal cells in the body.

There are about of 61 subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it is important for physicians to determine the exact type of cancer in order to design an accurate treatment plan.