Many classification systems have come and gone over the years. Here is a brief history of them.
This classification was developed before lymphoid cells were divided into B-cells and T-cells. It was developed in 1966 with the Lukes Collins modifications in 1974
Well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma | small lymphocytic lymphoma |
Poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma | 6633 (NOS), 96643 (cellular phase) also: 96653 (HD NS, lymphocyte predominance) 96663 (HD NS mixed cellularity), 96673 (HD NS, lymphocytic depletion) |
follicular center cell lymphoma with a large component of small-cleaved cells. | Histiocytic lymphoma large cell lymphoma |
This was developed in 1974, the first to recognize B and T cell subtypes.
B-cell |
T-cell |
Low grade |
Low grade |
*Lymphocytic -chronic lymphocytic and prolymphocytic leukemia -hairy-cell leukemia | Lymphocytic -chronic lymphocytic and prolymphocytic leukemia |
- Small, cerebriform cell -mycosis fungoides, Sézary's syndrome | |
Lymphoplasmacytic/cytoid (LP immunocytoma) | Lymphoepithelioid (Lennert's lymphoma) |
Plasmacytic | Angioimmunoblastic (AILD, LgX) |
*Centroblastic/centrocytic - follicular ± diffuse - diffuse | T-zone |
* Centrocytic | Pleomorphicm, small cell (HTLV-1 |
HighGrade |
High Grade |
Centroblastic | Pleomorphic, medium and large cell (HTLV-1 ±) |
*Immunoblastic | Immunoblastic (HTLV-1 ±) |
Large cell anaplastic (Ki-1+) | *Large cell anaplastic (Ki-1+) |
Burkitt's lymphoma | |
Lymphoblastic | Lymphoblastic |
Rare types | Rare types |
This was developed by the National Cancer Institute in 1982 as a method of translating among the recognized classification systems for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Rappaport, Dorfman, Lukes and Collins, Kiel, and the British Lymphoma system). The major groups are identified by letters, A - J, and grouped according to prognosis:
Most favourable | Low grade | A, B, C |
Intermediate grade | D, E, F, G | |
Least favourable | High grade | H, I, J |
Low grade |
Intermediate grade |
High grade |
Small lymphocytic | Follicular large cell | Large cell immunoblastic |
Follicular small-cleaved cell | Diffuse small cleaved cell | Lymphoblastic |
Follicular mixed small cleaved and large cell | Diffuse mixed small and large cell | Small non-cleaved cell (Burkitt and non-Burkitt types) |
Diffuse large cell |
Cell types categorized as unclassified by the Working Formulation include the non-specific terms malignant lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse malignant lymphoma, nodular or follicular malignant lymphoma, and cutaneous lymphoma.
Differences in histology refer to differences in the first 3 digits of the ICD-O morphology code.
A simultaneous diagnosis of malignant lymphocytic lymphoma (small cell type) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is coded to CLL
This system was used from 2001-2009 but replaced with the current 2008 WHO classification system.
NOTE: The WHO adopted a new classification system for cutaneous lymphomas. The classification system below is still the current one used, but it will eventually be integrated with these new changes to the cutaneous lymphomas.
Click here to read about the new cutaneous classification.
B-cell neoplasms
T-cell and putative NK-cell neoplasms
(Hodgkin's disease)
*These represent provisional entities or provisional subtypes of other neoplasms.
Source information from Blood Journal and the 2009 ASH education series
Additional information about the 2008 WHO classification.