Non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins Lymphoma - Differences

The following are the salient features that distinguishes the two types of lymphomas-

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is an unpredictable cancer involving different cell types and has the potential to arise in various locations. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a more consistent cancer and comprises of only four subtypes. It spreads through the lymphatic ducts and confines itself to the nodes.
NHL occurs more frequently in older people, while HL mostly affects the young, particularly those in their twenties and thirties.
Although the treatments for the two types of lymphomas may sometimes overlap, specificity is the key to success as a treatment that is effective for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma is less so when employed to treat Hodgkins Lymphoma. Similarly, the reverse too holds good.

The morphology of the NHL cells differs from the cells of most of the HL types.
Reed-Sternberg cells are large- sized cancerous cells that have more than one nucleus and when viewed under the microspcope give the cancer a distinctive diagnostic appearance. They help in confirming the condition typical of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
The cell surface antigens for the non-Hodgkins lymphoma differ from most Hodgkins cells.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in about 40 percent of Hodgkins lymphoma tumors while it is seldom seen in the non-Hodgkin variety.