Subtypes

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Types of Hodgkin Lymphoma

There are two main and distinct cancers called: classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma consists of nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte-rich and lymphocyte depleted subtypes. There are also a few patients where the cells do not ‘fit in’ to any of these subtypes. These are then considered to be Hodgkin lymphoma unclassifiable. Each type of lymphoma is described here:

1. Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Nodular Sclerosis

• 60 to 80% of patients have this type of Hodgkin lymphoma
• More commonly seen in young adults
• Usually involves the lymph glands of the neck and chest.

Mixed Cellularity

• 15 to 30% of patients have this type of Hodgkin lymphoma
• More commonly seen in people over 50 years.

Lymphocyte-rich

• About 5% of patients have this type of Hodgkin lymphoma
• Usually diagnosed at an early stage in adults (40 to 50 years).

Lymphocyte Depleted

• Less than 1% of patients have this type of Hodgkin lymphoma
• Tends to be more widespread at diagnosis
• More common in older patients and in non-industrialized countries
• More common in HIV-positive patients.

2. Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant

• Tends to be slow growing.

Most patients respond well to treatment regardless of the type of Hodgkin lymphoma they have. A more important consideration in the choice of treatment is how widely the lymphoma has spread in your body (i.e., the stage of the disease).