Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: What's the difference?

What's the difference between Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

- Hadeel / No state given

Mayo Clinic hematologist Ruben Mesa, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are lymphomas, a type of cancer that originates in a subset of white blood cells called lymphocytes — an important component of your immune system. The main difference is in the specific lymphocyte each involves.

A doctor can tell the difference between Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's by examining the cancer cells under a microscope. If in examining the cells, the doctor detects the presence of a specific type of abnormal cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin's. If the Reed-Sternberg cell is not present, the lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin's.

The distinction is important because the treatment for each type can be very different.