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How is Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas Different?

All lymphomas are subdivided based on the type of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that are cancerous. Below is a list of comparison of Hodgkin's & Non-Hodgkin's:

Hodgkin's Lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas
Age Average age is 27.7 with two age peaks, the major one between 15 and 24 with a lesser peak after age 55 Average age is about 67
Chance of getting in all people over an entire lifetime (USA) Men 0.23%
Women 0.20%
Men 2.12%
Women 1.79%
Occurrence About 15% of all lymphomas About 85% of all lymphomas
Location The disease occurs most often in lymph nodes above the collar bone. In Hodgkin's it is also more likely to appear in the chest cavity between the lungs (the mediastinum), particularly in younger patients.

Only about 15% to 20% of cases are found in areas below the diaphragm.

Disease occurs outside the nodes in about 4% of cases.
The disease occurs most often in lymph nodes above the collar bone. In NHL it is also more likely to appear in the nodes in the abdomen (called the mesenteric nodes).

The disease occurs in the chest cavity in less than 40% of patients. (An exception, lymphoblastic lymphoma, which is seen most often in young people, is likely to first
Affected Lymph Cells B-Lymphocytes characterized by the Reed-Sternberg Cell B-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocytes or Natural Killer (NK) Cells depending on the subtype
Symptoms More likely than NHL (40%) to have systemic ("B") symptoms (such as fever and night sweats) at the time of diagnosis Less likely than HL to have systemic ("B") symptoms (27%) at the time of diagnosis
Progression Less likely than NHL to be diagnosed in stage IV (10%). Hodgkin's disease usually progresses in an orderly way from one lymph node region to the next. This process may be slow, particularly in younger people, or very aggressive. The disease typically spreads downward from the initial site. If it spreads below the diaphragm, it usually reaches the spleen first; the disease then may spread to the liver and bone marrow. If the disease starts in the nodes in the middle of the chest, it may spread outward to the chest wall and areas around the heart and lungs. More likely than HD to be diagnosed in stage IV (36%) but this will vary by NHL subtype.

The Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are less predictable in their course than Hodgkin's and they are more apt to spread.

 

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Resources

Lymphoma Classification and Typing
SEER Cancer Incidence Rates, NCI
Paper Lymphoma (Non-Hodgkin's) for Well Connected / A.D.A.M., reviewed by Harvey Simon, MD. 12/31/2002

 

Related Articles

General Lymphoma Information


What is Lymphoma?
What are general lymphoma symptoms?


Adult Lymphomas


Hodgkin's Disease
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma


Childhood Lymphomas


Childhood Lymphomas

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Did You Know?
Since the early 1970s, incidence rates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have nearly doubled. Incidence rates for Hodgkin’s disease have declined about 60%. Better means of diagnosis has also increased the number as doctors better understand cancer of lymphocytes verses other diseases.
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