Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma generally believed to result from white blood cells of the lymphocyte kind.
Symptoms may include fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Often there will be non-painful enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin. Those affected may feel tired or be itchy.
About half of cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma are due to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Other risk factors include a family history of the condition and having HIV/AIDS. There are two major types of Hodgkin lymphoma: classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Diagnosis is by finding Hodgkin's cells, such as multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (RS cells), in lymph nodes.
Hodgkin lymphoma may be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplant. The choice of treatment often depends on how advanced the cancer is and whether or not it has favorable features.
In early disease a cure is often possible. The percentage of people who survive five years in the USA is 86%. For those under the age of 20 the rate of survival is 97%. Radiation and some chemotherapy drugs, however, increase the risk of other cancers, heart disease, or lung disease over the subsequent lifespan.[7]
The most common age of diagnosis is between 20 and 40 years old.
It was named after the British physician Thomas Hodgkin, who first described the condition in 1832.
See reference for more information.
See also. Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet. Accessed on March 6, 2017.