Lymphoma, a type of cancer, affects the lymphatic system and white blood cells known as lymphocytes. These cells protect the body against infections and diseases. The white blood cells or lymphocytes that have been affected by lymphoma multiply faster instead of dying. As a result, this leaves no space for healthy cells to form in the body. The cancer cells affect various parts of the body, but lymph nodes are affected mostly. One of the first signs of the disease are swollen lymph nodes, which do not cause any pain.

There are various lymphoma types and the most common ones are Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

1. Hodgkin’s lymphoma
This is a rare type of lymphoma. It is commonly recognized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in the body. The condition can be further divided into six subtypes. Hodgkin’s lymphoma has some peculiar characteristics, which can be observed under a microscope. As per WHO, Hodgkin’s lymphoma has four classical types: mixed cellularity, nodular sclerosing, lymphocyte rich, and lymphocyte depleted.

2. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
This is the most common type of lymphoma. There are as many as 61 types of the disease known. However, it is not easy to name and list down every type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to the number of methods used. This type of lymphoma, however, does not affect the body with Reed-Sternberg cells like Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, the standard classification for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is quite different. The classification is derived from its appearance which is visible under a microscope, the chromosomal features of the lymphoma cells, the presence of certain types of proteins, the origin of the cells (T-cells or B-cells).

3. Skin lymphoma
When the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma starts from the skin instead of other organs or tissues, it is known as skin lymphoma. This lymphoma type is also known as cutaneous lymphoma. When the cancer cells start from the lymph node and gradually start affecting the other parts of the body, including the skin, it does not characterize as skin lymphoma.

4. CNS lymphoma
This is a rare non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma type that affects the central nervous system. When a person is affected by this condition, the cancerous cells formed in the lymph node start forming in the brain, in the spinal cord, or just spread from other parts of the body to the parts of the central nervous system. Since they eyes are closest to the brain, the lymphoma starts affecting the eye first. This condition is known as ocular lymphoma. This can also spread into the spinal fluid in which the spinal cord and brain are bathed. This is known as leptomeningeal lymphoma.