What Is Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Why is it called non Hodkin's?
Hodgkin lymphoma was named after the doctor who first recognised it. It used to be called Hodgkin's disease. Hodgkin lymphoma has a particular appearance under the microscope and contains cells called Reed-Sternberg cells.
                                                                        

What are Reed-Sternberg cells?
Reed-Sternberg cells are large, abnormal lymphocytes that may contain more than one nucleus.

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Cancer starts when cells begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma) is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

NHL is a term that's used for many different types of lymphoma that all share some of the same characteristics. There is another main type of lymphoma, called Hodgkin lymphoma, which is treated differently. See Hodgkin Lymphoma.

NHL most often affects adults, but children can get it too. See Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children.
NHL usually starts in lymph nodes or other lymph tissue, but it can sometimes affect the skin. See Lymphoma of the Skin.