There are different types of high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. On this page you will find out where to get information about each type.
It can be confusing to know what to read if you or someone you know is diagnosed with a high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Our information focuses on DLBCL because it is the most common type, but the information is relevant for people with other types as well.
Find your diagnosis on this page and find out which information if right for you. You can ask your hospital team to confirm your exact diagnosis if you are not sure.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In fact, it is the most common blood cancer.
DLBCL is sometimes called “diffuse large B-cell lymphoma NOS”. NOS stands for “not otherwise specified”. You will get a diagnosis of DLBCL NOS if you do not have another specific type of DLBCL.
DLBCL is usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs (chemoimmunotherapy).
Burkitt lymphoma is a fast growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs (chemoimmunotherapy).
Double hit lymphoma is a type of high grade B-cell lymphoma that is caused by changes in two particular genes. Triple hit lymphoma shows changes in three particular genes.
Treatment is usually a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, similar to treatment for DLBCL.
EBV positive DLBCL affects some people who have had an infection with a virus called the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the past. The treatment is the same as for DLBCL NOS.
Grey zone lymphoma is a cross between Hodgkin lymphoma and DLBCL. Treatment is chemotherapy or chemotherapy with immunotherapy. For some people, the treatment will be the same as for Hodgkin lymphoma, other people will have treatment as for DLBCL.
Ask your hospital team whether you should read our information about Hodgkin lymphoma or DLBCL.
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High grade B-cell lymphoma NOS is a diagnosis you might get if the lymphoma is fast growing but does not look like any other type of high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. NOS stands for ”not otherwise specified”.
Treatment depends on your particular condition, but will usually be similar to treatment for DLBCL.
Intravascular LBCL is a very rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma where the abnormal B cells grow mainly inside blood vessels. Treatment for intravascular LBCL is largely the same as for DLBCL.
Primary CNS lymphoma is a high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma that only affects the brain and spinal cord. It is treated differently from other high grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Lymphoma Action has more information about Primary CNS lymphoma.
With primary mediastinal LBCL, abnormal B cells develop in the thymus (a gland in your chest) and build up inside the chest area. Treatment is usually like treatment for DLBCL, sometimes also with radiotherapy to the chest.
People who have a donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplant or organ transplant and take immunosuppressant drugs can develop lymphoma. This is called post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder or PTLD.
Most people with PTLD have DLBCL, although they can get other types of lymphoma.
Lymphoma Action has more information about PTLD.
If you have lymphoma with abnormal B cells and a high number of white blood cells called T cells and histiocytes, you may get a diagnosis of T cell/histiocyte rich large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).
It is a variant of DLBCL and is treated in the same way, usually with chemoimmunotherapy.
All of the lymphomas listed on this page affect white blood cells called B cells. More rarely, non-Hodgkin lymphoma can affect T cells or NK cells, which are also white blood cells.
Lymphoma Action has information about lymphoma that affects your T cells or NK cells, and lymphoma that affects the skin (cutaneous lymphoma).
