What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

This content has been reviewed and approved by

James O. Armitage, MD
The Joe Shapiro Professor of Internal Medicine
Section of Oncology/Hematology
University of Nebraska Medical Center

By far the most common manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is an enlarged lymph node. A firm, enlarged lymph node (larger than the width of your finger) that lasts for several weeks or increases in size should lead one to see a physician. However, many other manifestations of lymphomas are possible.

Because lymphomas can involve any organ in the body, symptoms of malfunction of those organs can be a sign of lymphoma. Neurologic deficits could be the manifestation of a brain lymphoma, jaundice could be the manifestation of lymphoma involving the liver, shortness of breath could be the manifestation of lymphoma involving the lung, abdominal pain or bleeding could signify lymphoma in the intestinal tract, etc.

Lymphomas can sometimes have symptoms that are not confined to any particular organ. The most common of these is unexplained fatigue. However, fevers, night sweats, weight loss, and severe itching are some of the common symptoms. For a patient with any of these symptoms that persist and are not easily explained, lymphoma is one of the things the physician needs to rule out.