The terms "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," and "Non-Hodgkin lymphoma" are used interchangeably on this site
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
A B-cell is a type of lymphocyte that produces antibodies to fight infections. They are the most prevalent lymphocyte in the
bloodstream and are crucial to building a strong immune system. Not only do produce antibodies to antigens that attack the body,
they also generate "memory" cells that can be reproduced in the case of a repeat attack.
B-Cell lymphoma occurs when B-Cells mutate and become cancerous. Subsequently, as the cancerous B-Cells clone themselves the
cancer proliferates.
B-Cell lymphomas account for 80-90% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL).
The other major subset is
T-Cell lymphoma.
Types of B-cell lymphomas:
Lymphomas are categorized according to how the B-cells are affected.
An in-depth list of lymphoma
classifications is available for reference. Please select a link for a
specific lymphoma or group of lymphomas:
Causes or Risk Factors?
B-cell lymphomas usually have genetic origins, though can also be linked to environmental factors immunodeficiency,
viruses, and connective tissue disorders. To put it bluntly, there no truthful answer to, "What causes B-cell lymphoma?"
The "causes" are not entirely understood and it is more helpful to focus on risk factors rather than causes. Please
see the "What causes lymphoma?" page for more detailed information.
The major risk factors for NHL include:
- Immune deficiencies, the causes of which can be genetic, linked to drug treatment, organ transplants, chemical exposure or the result of other diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
- Autoimmune diseases where the immune system constantly attacks a certain part of the body.
- Chronic infections, which cause the immune system to generate new lymphocytes at a high rate, thereby increasing the risk of cancerous mutation.
Dive Deeper
B-cell Lymphoma Resources
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Information Pages:
Information on Childhood Lymphomas:
