In the US, childhood Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas make up about 5% of the 53,370 cases of NHL diagnosed each year.  In contrast, 10% to 15% of the 7,880 cases of Hodgkin's Disease (another form of lymphoma) are diagnosed in those under 16. 

There are many types of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, characterized by which type of lymphocytes in the body are cancerous and how they present themselves.  Unlike the 29 or so adult non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, childhood NHLs fall into four broad categories (with percentage of occurrence): lymphoblastic lymphoma (30%), Burkitt's lymphoma (40%), Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (10%), and large B-cell lymphoma (20%).

What causes Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is still unknown. Incidence of NHL has continued to increase over the years. The current thinking is that there probably is a genetic factor and the cancer may not start without a "trigger" such as environmental factors. NHL is not contagious and the patient does not pose a risk to others in any way.

For more information on Childhood Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, please see the following pages:

• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Diagnosis
• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
• Childhood  Lymphoma: Resources
• Just For Kids and Teens

For more information on other aspects of lymphoma:

• The Adult Non-Hodgkin's Information Pages
• Lymphoma Classification and Typing

The Home Page - gateway to support and more:

• The Lymphoma Information Network

References:

• American Cancer Society - What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma? (new)
• US National Cancer Institute
  • Childhood Cancers Home Page (new)
  • Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Home Page (new)
  • Questions and Answers About Care for Children and Adolescents with Cancer (new)
• BBCi Health (UK) - Childhood lymphoma (new)
• Lymphomation - Childhood lymphomas (new)

The lymph system: lymph system overview
Lymphoma Causes