Non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins Lymphoma - Differences
The following are the salient features that distinguishes the two types of lymphomas-
- Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is an unpredictable cancer involving different cell types and has the potential to arise in various locations. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a more consistent cancer and comprises of only four subtypes. It spreads through the lymphatic ducts and confines itself to the nodes.
- NHL occurs more frequently in older people, while HL mostly affects the young, particularly those in their twenties and thirties.
- Although the treatments for the two types of lymphomas may sometimes overlap, specificity is the key to success as a treatment that is effective for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma is less so when employed to treat Hodgkins Lymphoma. Similarly, the reverse too holds good.
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- The morphology of the NHL cells differs from the cells of most of the HL types.
- Reed-Sternberg cells are large- sized cancerous cells that have more than one nucleus and when viewed under the microspcope give the cancer a distinctive diagnostic appearance. They help in confirming the condition typical of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- The cell surface antigens for the non-Hodgkins lymphoma differ from most Hodgkins cells.
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in about 40 percent of Hodgkins lymphoma tumors while it is seldom seen in the non-Hodgkin variety.
