Lymphoma Basics: Understanding Hodgkin vs Non-Hodgkin Types

Reed-Sternberg cells: Hodgkin – present. Non-Hodgkin – absent.
Frequency: Hodgkin – less common. Non-Hodgkin – more common.
Typical age: Hodgkin – young adults and older adults. Non-Hodgkin – mostly older adults, but all ages.
Pattern of spread: Hodgkin – orderly, node to node. Non-Hodgkin – less predictable.
Extranodal involvement: Hodgkin – less common. Non-Hodgkin – more common.
Number of subtypes: Hodgkin – few. Non-Hodgkin – many.
Outlook: Hodgkin – generally very high cure rates. Non-Hodgkin – varies widely by subtype.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, the network of vessels, glands and organs that helps the body fight infection. It is one of the more common blood cancers and can affect people at almost any age. Doctors divide lymphomas into two broad groups, Hodgkin lymphoma and non- Hodgkin lymphoma, which differ in how they look under the microscope, how they behave and how they are treated. Many lymphomas respond very well to treatment, and some are highly curable.

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