Named for Thomas Hodgkin, an English scholar and physician who first described it in 1832, Hodgkin Lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin's disease) most commonly affects children ages 15 years and older. The disease is rarely seen in children before age five. In adolescents, it is equally common among boys and girls. In children younger than 15 years of age, the disease is slightly more common in boys. The hallmark of the disease is the presence of abnormal cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells, which may vary in appearance, in the cancerous region of the lymph node. There is evidence that these cells arise from B-cell lymphocytes (white blood cells). There are four types of Hodgkin Lymphoma based on the revised World Health Organization/Revised European-American Lymphoma (WHO/REAL) Classification System:
Nodular Lymphocyte predominance (LP)
In this form of the disease, the lymph nodes contain mainly reactive lymphocytes and malignant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells in clusters throughout the cancer. LP is more common in younger children, and it accounts for about 20 percent of all Hodgkin Lymphoma incidence.
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
This group consists of the following forms of the disease:
Lymphocyte Rich
In this form of the disease, the lymph nodes contain mainly reactive lymphocytes and malignant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, spread diffusely throughout the cancer.
Nodular Sclerosis (NS)
In this form of the disease, the lymph nodes contain scar tissue (sclerosis), normal and reactive lymphocytes, and Reed-Sternberg cells. NS accounts for 70 percent of Hodgkin Lymphoma incidence in children older than 15 years of age.
Mixed Cellularity (MC)
In this form of the disease, the lymph nodes contain inflammatory cells and Reed-Sternberg cells. MC is most common in children diagnosed before their tenth birthday and accounts for 30 percent of Hodgkin Lymphoma incidence in children.
Lymphocyte Depletion (LD)
This form of the disease is rarely seen in children, and LD has decreased in incidence among adults.
The cause of Hodgkin Lymphoma has yet to be determined; however, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appears to play a role in the development of this form of cancer in 40 to 50 percent of the cases. This disease is not contagious and patients who have this disease do not pose a risk to others.
The following sections provide information on Hodgkin's disease symptoms, diagnosis, staging, and treatment.
