Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Also known as: NHL, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma
A large group of lymphomas that lack Reed-Sternberg cells and behave very differently from Hodgkin lymphoma.
Definition
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is an umbrella term for more than 60 different lymphomas that lack the Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin lymphoma. They range from indolent (slow-growing) types such as follicular lymphoma, which may need only watchful waiting for years, to highly aggressive types such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma, which need urgent treatment.
Diagnosis depends on a lymph-node biopsy with IHC and molecular tests. Treatment combines chemotherapy with antibody drugs such as rituximab, with radiation, targeted agents and increasingly cellular immunotherapy. Many aggressive NHLs can be cured.
See also
- Lymphoma — A cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune defence.
- Hodgkin Lymphoma — A type of lymphoma defined by the presence of distinctive Reed-Sternberg cells.
- Chemotherapy — Drug treatment that kills cancer cells throughout the body.
- Immunotherapy — Treatment that helps the body's own immune system find and destroy cancer cells.
- Remission — A reduction or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer after treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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