Risk Factors

• Men develop NHL 30 percent more often than women. Eighty-five percent of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma cases are in males, as are all lymphoma histologies in adults except nodular sclerosing.
• HL (Hodgkin Lymphoma) peaks in the 20-29 age range and again in the 50+ range. The histologies for these two peaks are different.
• Caucasian children are at slightly greater risk than African-American children.

Others at risk are:

• People with immune deficiency diseases, such as chronic immunosuppression (for organ transplants), acquired immunosuppression, Klinefelter syndrome, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, lymphocytopenia, lymphoid infiltrates in the skin; malignant lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, Sezary's disease, malignant histiocytosis, Letter-Siwe's disease, multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma, any leukemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
• People with autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus.
• People infected with HIV (particularly primary lymphoma of the brain).
• People taking immunosuppressant drugs following organ transplant.
• People who have received radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
• People who work extensively with or are otherwise exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides or some fertilizers.
• People who have persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, lymphatic disorders, including frequent lymphoid hyperplasia, chronic lymphadenopathy, infectious mononucleosis, exposure to Epstein-Barr virus.