BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNon-Hodgkin lymphoma in childrenLymphoma - non-Hodgkin - children; Lymphoblastic lymphoma - children; Burkitt lymphoma - children; Large cell lymphomas - children, Cancer - non-Hodgkin lymphoma - children; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - children; Mature B cell lymphoma - children; Anaplastic large cell lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, bone marrow, and other organs of the immune system. The immune system protects us against diseases and infections.This article is about NHL in children. Causes NHL tends to occur more often in adults. But children do get some types of NHL and more commonly in the second decade of life. Although all ages are affected, NHL is rare in children younger than age 3 years.The exact cause of NHL in children is not known. But, the development of lymphomas in children has been associated with:A weak immune system from an organ transplant Epstein-Barr virus, the virus that causes mononucleosis MononucleosisMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.Read Article Now Book Mark Article HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection Past cancer treatment such as radiation treatment or chemotherapy (very rare)There are many types of NHL. One classification (grouping) is by how fast the cancer spreads. The cancer may be low grade (slow growing), intermediate grade, or high grade (fast growing).NHL is further grouped by:How the cells look under the microscope What type of white blood cell it originates from Whether there are certain genetic DNA changes in the tumor cells themselves Symptoms Symptoms depend on which area of the body is affected by the cancer and how fast the cancer is growing.Symptoms may include:Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin Swollen lymph nodesLymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Painless swelling or lump in the testicle Swelling of the head, neck, arms or upper body Trouble swallowing Trouble breathing Wheezing Persistent cough Swelling in the belly Night sweats Weight loss Feeling tired Neurological symptoms such as severe back pain, numbness or weakness Skin rash Unexplained fever Exams and Tests The health care provider will take your child's medical history. The provider will do a physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes.The provider may perform these lab tests when NHL is suspected:Blood chemistry tests including protein levels, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and uric acid level Blood chemistry testsA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray, which often shows signs of a mass in the area between the lungsA lymph node biopsy confirms the diagnosis for NHL.Lymph node biopsyA lymph node biopsy is the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope. The lymph nodes are small glands that make white blood ce...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If a biopsy shows that your child has NHL, more tests will be done to see how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up.StagingCancer staging is a way to describe how much cancer is in your body and where it is located. Staging helps determine where the original tumor is, ho...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow biopsyA bone marrow biopsy is the removal of marrow from inside bone. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is foun...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scanPET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Immunophenotyping is a laboratory test used to identify cells, based on the types of antigens or markers on the surface of the cell. This test is used to diagnose the specific type of lymphoma by comparing the cancer cells to normal cells of the immune system. Treatment You may choose to seek care at a children's cancer center.Children's cancer centerA children's cancer center is a place dedicated to treating children with cancer. It may be a hospital or, it may be a unit inside a hospital. Thes...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment will depend on:The type of NHL (there are many types of NHL) Stage (where the cancer has spread) Your child's age and overall health Your child's symptoms, including weight loss, fever, and night sweatsChemotherapy is most often the first treatment:ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your child may need to stay in the hospital at first. But most of the treatment for NHL can be given in a clinic, and your child will still live at home. Chemotherapy is given mainly into the veins (IV), but some chemotherapy is given by mouth.Other treatments may include:Targeted therapy that uses drugs or antibodies to kill cancer cells. Targeted therapyTargeted therapy uses medicines to stop cancer from growing and spreading. It does this with less harm to normal cells than other treatments. Stand...Read Article Now Book Mark Article High-dose chemotherapy may be followed by stem cell transplant (using your child's own stem cells or from a donor). Stem cell transplantA bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatt...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CAR-T cells (special type of immunotherapy).Having a child with cancer is one of the hardest things you will ever deal with as a parent. Explaining what it means to have cancer to your child will not be easy. You will also need to learn how to get help and support so you can cope more easily.Explaining what it means to have cancer...Learning that your child has cancer can feel overwhelming and scary. You want to protect your child, not only from the cancer, but also from the fea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Learn how to get help and supportHaving a child with cancer is one of the hardest things you will ever deal with as a parent. Not only are you filled with worry and concern, you als...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups Having a child with cancer can be stressful. Joining a support group where other parents or families share common experiences may help ease your stress.Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- www.lls.org The National Children's Cancer Society -- thenccs.org/ Outlook (Prognosis) Most forms of NHL are curable. Even late stages of NHL are curable in children.Your child will need to have regular exams and imaging tests for years after treatment to make sure the tumor does not come back.Even if the tumor comes back, there is a good chance of a cure.Regular follow-ups will also help the health care team check for signs of the cancer returning and for any long-term treatment effects. Possible Complications Treatments for NHL may have complications. Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy may appear months or years after treatment. These are called "late effects." It is important to talk about treatment effects with your health care team. What to expect in terms of late effects depends on the specific treatments your child receives. The concern of late effects must be balanced by the need to treat and cure the cancer.Late effectsToday's cancer treatments help cure most children with cancer. These treatments also may cause health problems later on. These are called "late eff...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your child's provider if your child has swollen lymph nodes with unexplained fever that does not go away or has other symptoms of NHL.If your child has NHL, call the provider if your child has a persistent fever or other signs of infection.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Cancer Society website. What is Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children? www.cancer.org/cancer/childhood-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about/non-hodgkin-lymphomain-children.html. Updated August 10, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2022.Hochberg J, Goldman SC, Cairo MS. Lymphoma. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 523.National Cancer Institute website. Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/hp/child-nhl-treatment-pdq. Updated November 16, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2023.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - InDepth(In-Depth)Hodgkin disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Pneumonia - InDepth(In-Depth)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth)Acute lymphocytic leukemia - InDepth(In-Depth)Leukemia(Alt. Medicine)Melanoma and other skin cancers - InDepth(In-Depth)Rheumatoid arthritis - InDepth(In-Depth)Scleroderma - InDepth(In-Depth)Bone cancer(Alt. Medicine) Tests for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children Liver biopsyLymphangiogramGallium scanRelated Information Review Date: 8/9/2022 Reviewed By: Stergios Zacharoulis, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatric Oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 02/14/2023. 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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childrenLymphoma - non-Hodgkin - children; Lymphoblastic lymphoma - children; Burkitt lymphoma - children; Large cell lymphomas - children, Cancer - non-Hodgkin lymphoma - children; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - children; Mature B cell lymphoma - children; Anaplastic large cell lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, bone marrow, and other organs of the immune system. The immune system protects us against diseases and infections.This article is about NHL in children. Causes NHL tends to occur more often in adults. But children do get some types of NHL and more commonly in the second decade of life. Although all ages are affected, NHL is rare in children younger than age 3 years.The exact cause of NHL in children is not known. But, the development of lymphomas in children has been associated with:A weak immune system from an organ transplant Epstein-Barr virus, the virus that causes mononucleosis MononucleosisMononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, most often in the neck.Read Article Now Book Mark Article HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection Past cancer treatment such as radiation treatment or chemotherapy (very rare)There are many types of NHL. One classification (grouping) is by how fast the cancer spreads. The cancer may be low grade (slow growing), intermediate grade, or high grade (fast growing).NHL is further grouped by:How the cells look under the microscope What type of white blood cell it originates from Whether there are certain genetic DNA changes in the tumor cells themselves Symptoms Symptoms depend on which area of the body is affected by the cancer and how fast the cancer is growing.Symptoms may include:Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin Swollen lymph nodesLymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Painless swelling or lump in the testicle Swelling of the head, neck, arms or upper body Trouble swallowing Trouble breathing Wheezing Persistent cough Swelling in the belly Night sweats Weight loss Feeling tired Neurological symptoms such as severe back pain, numbness or weakness Skin rash Unexplained fever Exams and Tests The health care provider will take your child's medical history. The provider will do a physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes.The provider may perform these lab tests when NHL is suspected:Blood chemistry tests including protein levels, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and uric acid level Blood chemistry testsA comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray, which often shows signs of a mass in the area between the lungsA lymph node biopsy confirms the diagnosis for NHL.Lymph node biopsyA lymph node biopsy is the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope. The lymph nodes are small glands that make white blood ce...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If a biopsy shows that your child has NHL, more tests will be done to see how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide future treatment and follow-up.StagingCancer staging is a way to describe how much cancer is in your body and where it is located. Staging helps determine where the original tumor is, ho...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow biopsyA bone marrow biopsy is the removal of marrow from inside bone. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells. It is foun...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scanPET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Immunophenotyping is a laboratory test used to identify cells, based on the types of antigens or markers on the surface of the cell. This test is used to diagnose the specific type of lymphoma by comparing the cancer cells to normal cells of the immune system. Treatment You may choose to seek care at a children's cancer center.Children's cancer centerA children's cancer center is a place dedicated to treating children with cancer. It may be a hospital or, it may be a unit inside a hospital. Thes...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment will depend on:The type of NHL (there are many types of NHL) Stage (where the cancer has spread) Your child's age and overall health Your child's symptoms, including weight loss, fever, and night sweatsChemotherapy is most often the first treatment:ChemotherapyThe term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your child may need to stay in the hospital at first. But most of the treatment for NHL can be given in a clinic, and your child will still live at home. Chemotherapy is given mainly into the veins (IV), but some chemotherapy is given by mouth.Other treatments may include:Targeted therapy that uses drugs or antibodies to kill cancer cells. Targeted therapyTargeted therapy uses medicines to stop cancer from growing and spreading. It does this with less harm to normal cells than other treatments. Stand...Read Article Now Book Mark Article High-dose chemotherapy may be followed by stem cell transplant (using your child's own stem cells or from a donor). Stem cell transplantA bone marrow transplant is a procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft, fatt...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CAR-T cells (special type of immunotherapy).Having a child with cancer is one of the hardest things you will ever deal with as a parent. Explaining what it means to have cancer to your child will not be easy. You will also need to learn how to get help and support so you can cope more easily.Explaining what it means to have cancer...Learning that your child has cancer can feel overwhelming and scary. You want to protect your child, not only from the cancer, but also from the fea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Learn how to get help and supportHaving a child with cancer is one of the hardest things you will ever deal with as a parent. Not only are you filled with worry and concern, you als...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups Having a child with cancer can be stressful. Joining a support group where other parents or families share common experiences may help ease your stress.Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- www.lls.org The National Children's Cancer Society -- thenccs.org/ Outlook (Prognosis) Most forms of NHL are curable. Even late stages of NHL are curable in children.Your child will need to have regular exams and imaging tests for years after treatment to make sure the tumor does not come back.Even if the tumor comes back, there is a good chance of a cure.Regular follow-ups will also help the health care team check for signs of the cancer returning and for any long-term treatment effects. Possible Complications Treatments for NHL may have complications. Side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy may appear months or years after treatment. These are called "late effects." It is important to talk about treatment effects with your health care team. What to expect in terms of late effects depends on the specific treatments your child receives. The concern of late effects must be balanced by the need to treat and cure the cancer.Late effectsToday's cancer treatments help cure most children with cancer. These treatments also may cause health problems later on. These are called "late eff...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your child's provider if your child has swollen lymph nodes with unexplained fever that does not go away or has other symptoms of NHL.If your child has NHL, call the provider if your child has a persistent fever or other signs of infection.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Cancer Society website. What is Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children? www.cancer.org/cancer/childhood-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about/non-hodgkin-lymphomain-children.html. Updated August 10, 2021. Accessed November 8, 2022.Hochberg J, Goldman SC, Cairo MS. Lymphoma. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 523.National Cancer Institute website. Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/hp/child-nhl-treatment-pdq. Updated November 16, 2022. Accessed February 14, 2023.