Types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The most commonly used system groups non-Hodgkin lymphomas into more than 40 different types. We name some of the more common types of NHL in this section.

B-cell and T-cell lymphomas Back to top

Lymphomas are often described as B-cell lymphomas or T-cell lymphomas according to whether they began in B-cell lymphocytes or T-cell lymphocytes. 

B-cell lymphomas are much more common than T-cell lymphomas. About 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with NHL have a B-cell lymphoma. 

The most common B-cell lymphomas are:

• diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• follicular lymphoma

Other, less common, types include:

• extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated tissue (MALT lymphoma)
• mantle cell lymphoma
• Burkitt lymphoma
• mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
• nodal marginal zone lymphoma
• small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
• lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma  (also called Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia).

Only about 1 in 10 non-Hodgkin lymphomas are T-cell lymphomas, so they are much less common. 

Types of T-cell lymphoma include: 

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

For other rare types of lymphoma, contact our cancer support specialists| who can give you more information.

Indolent and aggressive lymphomas Back to top

Lymphomas are also often grouped as either indolent or aggressive.

Indolent lymphomas (sometimes called low-grade)

These grow very slowly and may need little or no treatment for months or possibly years. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of indolent NHL. 

Aggressive lymphomas (sometimes called high-grade)

These grow more quickly. They usually cause symptoms and need immediate treatment. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of aggressive lymphoma.