Lymphoma & Myeloma: Step 1 review notes and self-test
Notes for the Lymphoma & Myeloma rapid review: the clue that separates each of its 5 confusion pairs, with timestamps and a self-test.
October 21, 2026
This video covers the key clues that separate Hodgkin lymphoma, major non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, MGUS, and B-cell from T-cell lymphomas. Watch the video, then use these notes to test yourself on each confusion pair.
Hodgkin lymphoma vs Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma has Reed-Sternberg cells, CD15 and CD30 markers, and orderly contiguous spread, while non-Hodgkin lymphoma is subtype-diverse and often extranodal or noncontiguous. Painless lymphadenopathy can occur in both, so you should rely on histology, marker pattern, spread pattern, and extranodal involvement instead of age or node location alone.
Hodgkin lymphoma vs Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Hodgkin is Reed-Sternberg/CD15/CD30 with orderly contiguous spread; NHL is subtype-diverse, often extranodal or noncontiguous. Open the comparison and video →Burkitt lymphoma vs Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma has MYC with t(8;14), starry-sky histology, and very rapid growth, while diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has sheets of large atypical B cells without the classic MYC and starry-sky pattern. Both are aggressive B-cell lymphomas, so you should use the MYC translocation, histology, and age and location pattern to separate them.
Burkitt lymphoma vs Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Burkitt is MYC/t(8;14), starry-sky, very fast; DLBCL is diffuse large B-cell sheets without the classic MYC-star pattern. Open the comparison and video →Follicular lymphoma vs Mantle cell lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma is an indolent follicular lymphoma with t(14;18) and BCL2 overexpression, while mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive mantle-zone lymphoma with t(11;14) and cyclin D1 overexpression. Both are mature B-cell lymphomas, so you should match the translocation to the protein to avoid mixing them up.
Follicular lymphoma vs Mantle cell lymphoma Follicular is BCL2/t(14;18) indolent follicle disease; mantle is cyclin D1/t(11;14) aggressive mantle-zone disease. Open the comparison and video →Multiple myeloma vs Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and MGUS
Multiple myeloma has malignant plasma cells, monoclonal protein, and CRAB end-organ damage, including hypercalcemia, renal dysfunction, anemia, and lytic bone lesions. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia has IgM hyperviscosity without lytic bone disease, while MGUS has monoclonal protein without CRAB end-organ damage. An M spike alone does not prove myeloma, so you should check for end-organ damage, immunoglobulin type, and marrow cell type.
Multiple myeloma vs Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and MGUS Myeloma is CRAB plus plasma cells and lytic lesions; Waldenstrom is IgM hyperviscosity without lytic bone disease; MGUS is M protein without end-organ damage. Open the comparison and video →B-cell lymphoma highlights vs T-cell lymphoma highlights
B-cell lymphomas often express CD19, CD20, or surface immunoglobulin, while T-cell lymphomas often express CD3 and have subtype clues such as skin findings, HTLV-1, flower cells, hypercalcemia, or ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. Location alone cannot determine the lineage, so you should use immunophenotype to separate B-cell from T-cell lymphoma.
B-cell lymphoma highlights vs T-cell lymphoma highlights B-cell lymphoma is usually CD19/CD20 or surface-Ig driven; T-cell lymphoma is CD3-driven with subtype clues such as skin, HTLV-1, flower cells, hypercalcemia, or ALK-positive ALCL. Open the comparison and video →Quick self-test
Name the diagnosis from the clue, then tap to check.
____ is malignant plasma cell proliferation with monoclonal protein plus end-organ damage: hypercalcemia, renal dysfunction, anemia, and lytic bone lesions.
Multiple myeloma · Multiple myeloma vs Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and MGUS
____ classically presents as painless cervical lymphadenopathy with a bimodal age distribution, Reed-Sternberg cells, contiguous spread, and often B symptoms.
Hodgkin lymphoma · Hodgkin lymphoma vs Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Keep going
Every pair in this review has a free page in the library with a side-by-side comparison and a practice question. Work through the ones you missed in the self-test first.