Are you wondering about the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)?
The main difference is the type of cell involved. HL contains specialized cells called Reed-Sternberg cells that can be seen under a microscope during a biopsy. NHL doesn't have these cells.
Here are some other key Show Full Answer
Are you wondering about the difference between Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)?
The main difference is the type of cell involved. HL contains specialized cells called Reed-Sternberg cells that can be seen under a microscope during a biopsy. NHL doesn't have these cells.
Here are some other key differences:
Age at diagnosis:
- HL is most common in teens and young adults (it's the most common cancer in 15-19 year olds)
- NHL typically affects older adults, most often diagnosed between ages 65-74
How common they are:
- NHL is much more common, accounting for about 4% of all cancers in the U.S. (around 80,000+ new cases yearly)
- HL is less common, making up about 0.4% of new cancer cases (around 8,500 new cases yearly)
Prognosis:
- More than 80% of people with HL are disease-free at least five years after treatment
- 63% to 82% of people with NHL are disease-free at least five years after treatment
Both types share similar risk factors, symptoms, and treatment approaches. If you're trying to understand which type you have, your doctor can determine this through biopsy results and other diagnostic tests.
January 3
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