The lymphatic system contains a complex network of tissues, nodes, and vessels that transports lymph fluid throughout the body. The fluid comprises white blood cells that fight infection and help eliminate wastes and toxins.

An imbalance in the white blood cells causes the disease called lymphoma. It develops in the lymphocytes and can spread quickly to internal organs through the extensive lymphatic network system.

The different types of lymphoma
The numerous types of lymphoma are divided into two broad categories, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

• Hodgkin’s lymphoma develops in the bone marrow and affects the immune system. The cancer transfers from one lymph node to another.
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma depends on the cell characteristics present in the lymph nodes, including other tissues in the body.

The types of lymphoma under Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The different types of lymphoma under Hodgkin lymphoma include:

• Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease
  This chronic condition accounts for nearly 5% of all lymphoma patients. It begins with the absence of Reed-Sternberg cells, and it affects people of any age between 30 and 50 years. This type of lymphoma is more common in men than it is in women.
• Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s disease
  This condition occurs in the upper half of the body and is very rare. It is mostly seen in just a few lymphy nodes.
• Mixed cellularity Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  It is much more common than lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is mostly seen in HIV-positive people.
• Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s disease
  It’s a rare and aggressive type of lymphoma that affects only around 1% of all lymphoma cases. It usually develops in aged and those who are HIV-positive. It’s most often in lymph nodes in the abdomen, along with those in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.
• Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  It’s the most common type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it occurs in nearly 70% of all Hodgkin’s cases. It is more widespread in younger men and develops in the lymph nodes that contain scar tissues or sclerosis.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma types
The different types of lymphoma under non-Hodgkin’s are broadly categorized under B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, depending on what lymphocyte is affected. The subtypes of T-cell lymphoma are quite uncommon and can be indolent or aggressive. B-cell lymphomas make up for many non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases, particularly in the United States. These affect the B-lymphocytes and are of multiple types. Given below are some of them.

• Burkitt’s lymphoma
  These lymphomas are very rare but are very aggressive, affecting individuals differently in different parts of the world. This disease is rare in adults and much more prevalent among children.
• Follicular lymphoma
  This condition begins in the white blood cells and can affect older adults more commonly. Among the different types of lymphoma, this condition grows gradually and is termed indolent.
• Mantle cell lymphoma
  This is yet another rare and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that develops in the spleen, lymph nodes, and the bone marrow. It’s difficult to diagnose early and is possible only at a later stage when the disease has spread significantly.