Forms

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are divided into four groups. They are divided into B-cell and T-cell lymphomas according to the cell of origin. A further distinction is made with regard to malignancy.

The naming is often based on how the cells change malignantly in the specific lymphoma. The less malignant B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas include Less malignant means that the lymphomas show slower growth. However, treatment with chemotherapeutic agents is rather difficult because they work better in fast-growing tumors.

The more malignant B-cell lymphomas include Burkitt’s lymphoma is often associated with an infection with the HI virus. The more malignant lymphomas show faster and more invasive growth. Due to the high division rate of the cells, they respond well to chemotherapy.

Chronic lymphatic leukemia
Hair cell leukemia,
Waldenstrom’s disease,
Multiple myeloma,
Follicular lymphoma,
MALT lymphoma
Mantelcellular lymphoma.
Burkitt’s lymphoma,
Diffuse large-cell B-cell lymphoma
AnaplasticLymphoma

Also with the T-cell-lymphomas, there are many subtypes, that belong to the less malignant lymphomas: Malignant T-cell lymphomas are divided into anaplastic, lymphoblastic and immunoblastic lymphomas.

Mycosis fungoides
The T-zone lymphoma,
The NK cell leukemia (Natural Killer Cell Leukemia),
The Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma
The pleomorphic small cell lymphoma.

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with 30%. It belongs to the more malignant and aggressive forms. As with other non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, the diagnosis is made by a combination of a consultation with a physician and a clinical examination of the lymph nodes, as well as laboratory results and a lymph node biopsy (tissue sample collection).

In some cases, imaging is also performed. In contrast to other non-Hodgkin lymphomas, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma does not have a specific marker that can be determined in the blood, for example, in order to make a reliable diagnosis. Therefore, a biopsy of an altered lymph node is necessary.

Since it is a malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that is associated with rapid growth, therapy is almost always based on the assumption that the disease will be cured. The cure rates are approximately 50% to 90%. The therapy consists of chemotherapy.

Which chemotherapy is given depends on age and a certain degree of risk, which is calculated during the diagnosis. Usually a combination of different chemotherapeutic agents with a special antibody is given. In B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the 5-year survival rate is between 60% and 90%. Life expectancy depends on the genetic composition of the tumor and is worsened by factors such as advanced age, poor general condition and an advanced stage according to the Ann-Arbor classification.