B CELL LYMPHOMAS
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- Cutaneous lymphoma (including mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome)
- Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
- Follicular lymphoma (FL)
- Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
- Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL)
- Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM)/Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL)
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
- B cell cutaneous lymphoma (CBCL)
T CELL LYMPHOMAS
- Extranodal natural killer T cell (ENKTL)
- T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL)
- Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL)
- T cell cutaneous lymphoma (CTCL)
B CELL LYMPHOMAS
Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is a cancer that develops from B lymphocytes (B cells). It is an aggressive (fast-growing) lymphoma, also known as high-grade or acute. The hallmark of Burkitt lymphoma is the translocation (rearrangement) of a gene called MYC. The disease may affect the jaw, central nervous system, bowel, kidneys, ovaries, or other organs. It occurs most often in children and young adults.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
CLL is classified by the accumulation and rapid reproduction of clonal B cells in the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. CLL and SLL are essentially the same disease, the only difference being where the cancer primarily occurs. When most of the cancer cells are located in the bloodstream and the bone marrow, the disease is referred to as CLL, although the lymph nodes and spleen are often involved. When the cancer cells are located mostly in the lymph nodes, the disease is called SLL.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
DLBCL is a cancer of B lymphocytes (B cells). In DLBCL, B cells stop responding to signals that usually limit the growth and reproduction of cells. This causes the B cells to undergo a malignant transformation (acquire the properties of cancer) where they become much bigger than normal lymphocytes.
This subtype of lymphoma is called diffuse large B cell because of the way the cancerous large B cells are scattered throughout (diffuse) the lymph nodes when examined with a microscope. This growth pattern contributes to the aggressive behaviour of DLBCL.
Follicular lymphoma (FL)
Follicular lymphoma is a cancer of the B lymphocytes (B cells) and is a common form of indolent (slow-growing) lymphoma (also known as low-grade). FL is usually described as a chronic, incurable disease. It is called follicular lymphoma because the cancerous lymphocytes often collect in the lymph nodes in clusters that are known as ‘follicles’. It often spreads to the bone marrow and spleen, but it usually does not affect organs and tissues other than the lymph nodes.
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the B lymphocytes (B cells), which is marked by the presence of very large cells called Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells. HL usually starts in the lymph nodes but can also spread to other organs. It occurs both in children and adults; however, it is most commonly diagnosed in young adults (ages 15-35) and in older adults (age 50 and older).
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
MCL is a rare cancer of the B lymphocytes (B cells). The disease is usually aggressive (fast-growing) but it can also behave more indolently (slow-growing) in some patients. The disease is called ‘mantle cell lymphoma’ because the tumor cells originally come from the ‘mantle zone’ of the lymph node. Most patients with MCL will have an overproduction of a protein called cyclin D1 in their lymphoma cells.
Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM)/Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL)
WM is a cancer of the B lymphocytes (B cells) and is subtype of LPL. WM is an indolent (slow-growing) lymphoma (also known as low grade), which can be managed as a chronic cancer for a number of years. However, it is not yet curable. It occurs mostly in older adults.
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a group of cancers of the B lymphocytes (B cells). MZL is an indolent (slow-growing) cancer (also known as low-grade). MZL is thought to originate from B cells present in the marginal zone of lymphoid follicles. These can be found in the spleen, lymph nodes and lymphoid tissues. The average age at diagnosis is 60 years, and it is slightly more common in women than men.
T CELL LYMPHOMAS
Extranodal natural killer T cell (ENKTL)
ENKTL is an aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that can develop in T lymphocytes (T cells) or in natural killer (NK) cells. It is called ‘extranodal’ because it develops in organs or tissues other than the lymph nodes. It typically affects areas in the nose (called ‘ENTKL nasal type’), most often the nasal passages, but it can also affect the upper part of the throat and the paranasal sinuses. ENKTL may be called ‘extranasal type’ when it affects the skin, testicles, soft tissues, kidneys, brain and/or spinal cord, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, or adrenal glands.
ENKTL, nasal type, is more common in Asia, South America, and Central America than it is in North America. The average age at diagnosis is 60, and it occurs more often in men than women. It is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), especially in people of Asian descent.
T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL)
T-LBL is a rare, aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that develops from T lymphocytes (T cells). It is common for people with T-LBL to present with a large collection of abnormal lymphocytes in the chest (called a mediastinal mass), though lymphoma cells can also appear in the lymph nodes as well as the bone marrow or spleen. It is also common to have a buildup of fluid in the space between the two layers of tissue that cover the lungs and line the chest cavity, or the sac that surrounds the heart. It occurs most commonly in adolescents and younger adults but can also develop in older people. It is slightly more common in men than in women.
Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL)
PTCL is a group of aggressive (fast-growing) lymphomas that develop from mature T lymphocytes (T cells) and natural killer (NK) cells. The term ‘peripheral’ identifies PTCL as a cancer that arises in the lymphoid tissues outside of the bone marrow such as lymph nodes, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. In general, PTCL is more common in Asia and in the Caribbean.
Cuteaneous lymphomas (CTCL and CBCL)
Cutaneous lymphomas are a group of T cell and B cell lymphomas which have a highly variable disease course, clinical presentation, and prognosis. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are the most common kind of skin lymphoma. CTCLs often look red and dry like an eczema rash and can affect widespread parts of the body. Cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) more commonly cause lumps in the skin, usually in one or two areas of the body.