Can Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children Be Found Early?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in children is uncommon, and there are no widely recommended screening tests for this cancer. (Screening is testing for cancer in people who don't have any symptoms.) Still, sometimes NHL can be found early.

The best way to find this cancer early is to be aware of its possible signs and symptoms and to take your child to the doctor if something concerns you.

Careful, regular medical checkups are important for children, especially those with known risk factors for NHL, such as:

  • Certain inherited immune deficiencies
  • Prior cancer treatment or organ transplant
  • HIV infection

These children do not usually develop NHL, but it's important for parents and doctors to know the possible symptoms and signs of lymphoma.

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Allen CE, Kamdar KY, Bollard CM, Gross TG. Malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas in children. In: Pizzo PA, Poplack DG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2016:587–603.

Kamdar KY, Sandlund JT, Bollard CM. Malignant lymphomas in childhood. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, Heslop HE, Weitz JI, Anastasi J, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier; 2013:1255−1266.

Rabin KR, Margolin JF, Kamdar KY, Poplack DG. Leukemias and lymphomas of childhood. In: DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015:1500–1510.

 

Last Medical Review: March 7, 2014 Last Revised: January 27, 2016

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Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging