Lymphoma may occur in one of many different types, and are classified under a more broad disease group called hematological neoplasms. Lymphoma is a solid neoplasm, which has its origin in the lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cells).

All lymphomas together make up roughly 5% of cancer cases in the United States. Individuals with a weakened immune system, for example due to medication or HIV infection, are at greater risk of developing lymphoma.

Lymphoma is labeled in a wide sense as either Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The name is derived from Thomas Hodgkin, who discovered the condition in 1832. Classification of lymphoma is also done by cell type, with the main groups being: B cell tumors, T cell tumors, NK (natural killer) cell tumors, and again Hodgkin lymphoma. Less common groups also exist.

Other thyroid cancers include:

Anaplastic cancer

Follicular cancer

Medullary cancer

Papillary cancer

Additionally, there are non-cancerous thyroid adenoma tumors.