Lymphoma is a general term for a variety of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. In technical terms, lymphoma means cancer of the lymphocytes. There are more than 30 subtypes of lymphoma, consisting of 5 types of Hodgkin's lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin's disease) and over 25 types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (see caption above).
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is the most common cancer of the lymphatic system. NHL is not a single disease, but rather a group of several closely related cancers that affect the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.
NHL is broadly divided into two major groups: B-cell lymphoma (which develops from abnormal B-lymphocytes, which is most common), and T-cell lymphomas (which develop from abnormal T-lymphocytes). Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. B cells develop into plasma cells that produce antibodies to fight infections, while T-cells attack foreign invaders (bacteria, viruses cells, etc.) directly.
Hodkins disease
Lymphoma cells in blood
Other, non-cancerous events may trigger higher than normal numbers of white cells. They may be made in response to infection, as shown here on the left. Compare the concentration of neutrophils to the normal smear on the right.
