What Is the Difference Between Hodgkin Lymphoma & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Lymphoma cancers arise in the immune system and in the lymphatic system and are broken down into two categories. The World Health Organization refers to these two categories as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and both cancers have unique features. Hodgkin lymphoma was first diagnosed in 1832 by Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, and is much more predictable in nature than non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic reports that non-local metastases are quite common in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Prevalance

• While the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma has dropped to 1 percent among Americans, the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has risen to 70 percent and is ranked the fifth most common cancer in the country. Oncologychannel.com explains that both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are more common in men than in women, and are not commonly diagnosed in children under the age of 5 years old.

The Reed-Sternberg Cell

• During the diagnosis phase, the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be seen under the microscope. When cancer cells are studied, Hodgkin lymphoma is denoted by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. According to University of Virginia Health Systems, Reed-Sternberg cells are markedly large, lymphoid cells that are surrounded by pale plasma.

Origination

• According to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Hodgkin lymphomas are most likely to originate in the lymph nodes of the neck, underarms, groin and abdomen. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma may develop anywhere in the body, eventually spreading to the lymphatic system.

Symptoms

• While some of the symptoms of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are similar, there are still a few differences. Each of the lymphomas shares symptoms of night sweats, unexplained fever, itching, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. But, patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma also present unexplained bone pain along with pain in the stomach, chest and pelvic region that is not experienced in Hodgkin patients.

Treatment

• The treatments for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are similar, and include the use of radiation, chemotherapy and biologic therapy. Biologic therapy helps the body create healthy cells to supplement those lost in the other forms of treatment, and is more successful in patients with Hodgkin than those with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Unfortunately, oncolink.org reports that the treatment success of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma is not as promising as those with Hodgkin. In fact, the recovery rate of Hodgkin treatments is so impressive that it is considered highly curable.