Lymphoma (classification)

Last updated: Monday, 20, December, 2010
Key InformationAppropriate Tests

WHO Classification of lymphoid neoplasms 

See Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin's)
and Hodgkin's disease
for appopriate tests.

This has replaced the REAL and Working Formulations. There is overlap between the leukaemias and lymphomas, as reflected in the classification.

Sub-classification requires concordance of clinical findings with histology, immunohistochemistry, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

Precursor B-cell neoplasm

Precursor B-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma

Mature (peripheral) B-cell neoplasms

Small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma

Hairy cell leukaemia

Plasma cell myeloma/plasmacytoma

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type

Follicular lymphoma 

Three grades:

  1. <20-25% large cells or < 5 large cells per high power field;
  2. 20-50% large cells or 5-15 large cells per high power field; and
  3. >50% large cells or >15 large cells per high powered field.

Mantle cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

  • Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
  • Primary effusion lymphoma

Burkitt's lymphoma/leukaemia

Precursor T-cell neoplasm

Precursor T-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma

Mature T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas

T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia

T-cell granular lymphocytic leukaemia

Aggressive NK-cell leukaemia

Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (HTLV-1+)

Extra-nodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma

Hepatosplenic gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma

Subcutaneous  panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma

Mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, T/null cell, primary cutaneous type

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise characterised

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, T/null cell, primary systemic type

Hodgkin's lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma

  • Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Lymphocyte-depleted classical Hodgkin's lymphoma