There are different ways of dividing up, or classifying, NHL. Different lymphomas are treated in different ways so it is important that the doctors know which type it is. The cells are examined and tests done which tell the doctors what type it is. The tests include looking at the appearance of the cells under the microscope, testing for specific types of proteins in the cells, and looking at genetic changes in the cells.

The most commonly used classification system groups lymphomas according to the cell type. There are over 20 different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

B-cell lymphomas

B-cell lymphomas are more common than T-cell lymphomas. The most common types of B-cell lymphomas are:

• diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• follicular lymphoma.

Other types which are less common include:

• extranodal marginal zone B-cell – MALT
• mantle cell
• burkitt lymphoma
• mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
• nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma
• small lymphocytic lymphoma
• lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (also called Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia).

T-cell lymphomas

T-cell lymphomas are much less common. Again there are a number of different types. These include:

• peripheral T cell lymphoma
• skin (cutaneous) lymphomas – including Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome
• anaplastic large cell
• lymphoblastic lymphoma (mainly T-cell but can be B-cell).

For other rare types of lymphoma, contact our cancer information service where we can give you more information about your illness and its treatment.