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| Overview: Hodgkin Disease |
What Is Hodgkin Disease? |
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Hodgkin disease (or Hodgkin lymphoma) is a type of lymphoma. There are
2 kinds of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin disease (named after Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who
recognized it in 1832)
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is covered in a separate American Cancer Society
document.
The Lymph System and Lymphoid Tissue
To better understand Hodgkin disease, it helps to know about the body's
lymph (pronounced "limf") system. The lymph system is made up of
lymphoid tissue, lymph vessels, and a clear fluid called lymph.
Lymphatic tissue includes the lymph nodes and other organs that are
part of the body’s immune and blood-forming systems. Lymph nodes are
small, bean-shaped organs found in many places throughout the body.
Other parts of the lymphatic system include the spleen, the bone
marrow, and the thymus gland.
The lymph nodes make and store lymphocytes, which are special white
blood cells that fight infection. There are 2 types of lymphocytes: B
lymphocytes (or B cells) and T lymphocytes (or T cells). Most cases of
Hodgkin disease start in B lymphocytes.
Start and Spread of Hodgkin Disease
Because lymphatic tissue is found in many parts of the body, Hodgkin
disease can start almost anywhere. Most often it starts in lymph nodes
in the upper part of the body. (Those in the chest, neck, or under the
arms.) This disease causes the lymphatic tissue to become enlarged and
press on nearby structures. But lymph nodes can become swollen for many
reasons. Most often it happens when the body is fighting an infection.
Hodgkin disease can spread through the lymphatic vessels in a stepwise
fashion from lymph node to lymph node. Rarely, and late in the disease,
it gets into the blood vessels and can then spread to almost any other
place in the body.
The Hodgkin Disease Cell
The cancer cells in Hodgkin disease are unique. They are called
Reed-Sternberg cells (or Hodgkin cells). They are an abnormal type of B
lymphocyte that is much larger than normal lymphocytes.
The 2 main types are classical
Hodgkin disease (which has several subtypes) and nodular lymphocyte predominance
Hodgkin disease. The types differ in the way the
cancer cells look under a microscope. The types are important because
each grows and spreads in a different way. Often they are treated
differently. Ask your doctor about the exact type of Hodgkin disease
you (or your loved one) has.
Classical Hodgkin Disease
Classical Hodgkin disease (HD) accounts for about 95% of all cases of
Hodgkin disease in developed countries. It has 4 subtypes, all of which
have Reed-Sternberg cells that can be seen under the microscope.
Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Disease
Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin disease (NLPHD) accounts for
about 5% of Hodgkin disease. This type mostly involves lymph nodes in
the neck and under the arm.
All types of Hodgkin disease are cancerous (malignant) because as they
grow they may compress, invade, and destroy normal tissue and spread to
other tissues. Hodgkin disease occurs in both children and adults.
Because Hodgkin disease is similar in both children and adults, this
document covers treatment in both groups.
Last Revised: 10/16/2007
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