Lymphoma is a cancer that develops from the cells of the immune system, such as B cells, T cells, or precursor cells that ultimately develop into B or T cells. B and T cells attack germs that invade the body and when the immune system is compromised by lymphoma, a child often has a hard time fighting infections. There are two main types of lymphoma, Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which can be further subdivided according to what type of immune cell becomes cancerous.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma in children accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all lymphomas, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include swelling of the lymph nodes, which may cause difficulty breathing; fever and night sweats; itchy skin; fatigue; a tendency to develop frequent viral infections; weight loss and decreased appetite. The Mayo Clinic adds that Hodgkin lymphoma differs from non-Hodgkin lymphoma by the presence of abnormal B cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. Reed-Sternberg cells do not die when they are supposed to, and grow uncontrollably, making the lymph nodes swell and harming other healthy tissue.
Lymphoblastic Lymphoma
The American Cancer Society reports that lymphoblastic lymphoma accounts for approximately 30 percent of all lymphomas is children. It is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The cells that become cancerous in this type of lymphoma are called lymphoblasts, which are precursor cells to mature immune cells, such as B and T cells. If more than 25 percent of the bone marrow is composed of cancer cells, the condition is called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Most lymphoblastic lymphomas start from T cell precursor cells, and often begin in the thymus, where T cells mature. Less often, this form of cancer begins from B cell precursors, and often begins in the neck lymph nodes.
Burkitt's Lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma is another common non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children, according to the American Cancer Society, accounting for 40 to 50 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The Children's Hospital Boston notes that this condition is a B cell cancer, and is also called non-cleaved cell lymphoma, because the cancer cells appear to have no indentations or folds when viewed with a microscope. The cancerous cells of Burkitt's lymphoma generally develop in the abdomen, and then spread to other organs in the body. This condition is usually a very fast-growing cancer, meaning the child often gets sick very quickly. The symptoms of Burkitt's lymphoma include pain in the abdomen, fever, constipation, and decreased appetite.
Large Cell Lymphoma
Large cell lymphomas are cancers of the mature B and T cells of the immune system, according to the American Cancer Society. This form of lymphoma accounts for about 25 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. Because mature B and T cells circulate all over the body, the transformed B and T cells of this type of cancer can form anywhere in the body. If the cancer is a transformed T cell, cells are often found in the neck lymph nodes, or in the skin, lung, or bone. If the cancer is a transformed B cell, the cancer cells often form a mass (tumor) in the space between the lungs. The symptoms of large cell lymphoma depend on where the tumors develop.
