Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Definition
· Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the disease of uncontrolled cell growth of lymphocytes (white blood cells) that can reside in any tissue but usually in lymph nodes, or lymphatic tissue in the gastrointestinal track, skin, or spleen. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma does not include a specific type of lymphoma usually involving the lymph nodes of the neck (Hodgkin’s Disease)

• Overview
· Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is diagnosed in about 54,000 people in the United States every year.
Almost 20,000 people in the United States die from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma every year

• Types
· Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is divided into different types based on whether it originated from B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes and the lymphocyte characteristics

· B lymphocytes include
Burkitt’s lymphoma
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma
Hairy cell leukemia
Mantle cell lymphoma
Marginal zone lymphomas
Precursor B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
Small lymphocytic lymphoma

· T cell lymphomas include
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Mycosis fungoides (cutaneous lymphoma
Peripheral T cell lymphoma

• Symptoms
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma symptoms may include
A swollen and painless lymph node
Unexplained fever, night sweats, or weight loss
Abdominal pain or abdominal fullness

• Treatment
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is treated with chemotherapy and or radiation

References
Cancer Statistics 2004. CA Cancer J Clin 54:8, 2004.

Posted on September 24, 2008

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