Clinical Differences Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma usually presents with either a neck or a mediastinal mass. It arises first in the lymph nodes and rarely involves extranodal sites initially. It tends to spread contiguously to adjacent nodal stations rather than "skipping" to distant sites. Most patients present with early stage I or II disease. Epitrochlear, popliteal, or mesenteric nodal involvement is unusual. There is a bimodal age distribution with an early peak in the 20s and a later peak in the 60s.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas originate from lymphocytes and also are called lymphocytic lymphomas. The incidence of these tumors has increased over the past 20 years. Some of this increase has occurred because of an association with AIDS, but this is not the whole story.
In contrast to Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are often extranodal and spread noncontiguously. They rarely present as localized disease; bone marrow and liver involvement is common. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involves epitrochlear, popliteal, and mesenteric lymph nodes as well as Waldeyer's ring. It accounts for almost all gastrointestinal lymphomas. Most patients present with advanced-stage disease