Types of Lymphoma

July 13, 2024

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Alex Herrera, M.D., associate professor, division of lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte

Dozens of lymphoma types appear and act differently in the body. While lymphoma is a rare disease, some types are more common. About 90% of people with lymphoma are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Most Common Types of Lymphoma

Lymphomas are broadly split into two main forms, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounts for the vast majority of cases, with about 80,620 Americans diagnosed with the cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). That compares with roughly 8,570 people diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. While both cancers begin in white blood cells, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas tend to strike at different ages and behave differently in the body. Treatments for each disease differ as well.

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma arises when white blood cells called B lymphocytes become abnormal and start growing and dividing out of control. While lymphomas may arise anywhere along the body’s vast lymphatic system, Hodgkin lymphoma usually begins in lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or chest. Lymph nodes are bean-sized tissues where white blood cells collect.

Learn more about Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a complex disease that begins when either B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes change and grow out of control. In rare cases, NHL begins in another type of lymphocyte called natural killer or NK cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma has many diverse subtypes, but they may be grouped into two broad categories: indolent (slow-growing) and aggressive.

• Indolent NHL types tend to progress slowly and may cause few signs or symptoms.
• Aggressive forms grow and spread rapidly, with sometimes severe symptoms.

NHL may arise in the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the lymphatic system, such as the bone marrow, spleen or other tissue.

Learn more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Rare Types of Lymphoma

Some types of lymphoma are particularly rare, including forms that begin in the skin and those that strike in childhood.

Cutaneous (Skin) Lymphoma

The skin contains lymph tissue, and some cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma arise in the skin alone. That’s referred to as skin (or cutaneous) lymphoma, and it accounts for only about 4% of all NHL diagnoses. While rare, skin lymphoma does have further subtypes, depending on the type of white blood cell affected. Most skin lymphomas begin in T lymphocytes, and are sometimes called cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs).

Learn more about skin lymphoma

Central Nervous System Lymphoma (CNS)

Also known as brain lymphoma, central nervous system lymphoma occurs when lymphoma cells affect the spinal cord or brain. It’s a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and is more common among male patients than it is in female patients.