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Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors arising in the reticuloendothelial and lymphatic systems. The major types are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL—see Table 1: Lymphomas: Comparison of Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma ).
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Table 1
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Comparison of Hodgkin Lymphoma
and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Feature
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Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Nodal involvement
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Localized to a specific group of nodes
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Usually disseminated among > 1 nodal group
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Spread
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Tends to spread in an orderly, contiguous fashion
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Spreads noncontiguously
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Effect on Waldeyer's ring and mesenteric lymph nodes
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Usually does not affect
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Commonly affects mesenteric nodes
May affect Waldeyer's ring
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Extranodal involvement
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Infrequent
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Frequent
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Stage at diagnosis
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Usually early
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Usually advanced
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Histologic classification in children
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Usually one with favorable prognosis
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Usually high grade
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Lymphomas were once thought to be absolutely distinct from leukemias. However, better understanding of cell markers and tools with which to evaluate those markers now show that the differentiation between these 2 cancers is often vague. The notion that lymphoma is relatively restricted to the lymphatic system and leukemias to the bone marrow, at least in early stages, is also not always true.
Last full review/revision July 2008 by Carol S. Portlock, MD
Content last modified July 2008
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