Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: in a class all its own

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) incidence rates have increased more than 50% over the past 15 years, making it the sixth leading cause of death from cancer in the United States and the fourth most significant malignancy in terms of economic impact. Comparable trends are noted worldwide. Improved diagnostic techniques have resulted in reclassifying some tumors that in the past would have been classified as Hodgkin's disease. In this article, the latest diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment options for NHL are reviewed and a cross-reference chart for these evolving class systems provided.