(Hodgkin Disease—Adult)
Definition
Definition
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system drains excess fluid from the blood and protects against infection. Hodgkin lymphoma is different from other forms of lymphoma.
The Lymphatic OrgansCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
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Cancer occurs when cells in the body—in this case a type of white blood cell called lymphocyte—divide without control or order. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissue and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.
Causes
Causes
The cause of Hodgkin lymphoma is unknown. It is likely related to complex genetic and environmental factors that lead to changes of the immune system. There are some compelling pieces of data to suggest that it is caused by a virus. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been considered.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in men and people ages 15-40 and over 55 years of age. Factors that increase your chance of getting Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Family history
- History of infectious mononucleosis or infection with Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis
- Weakened immune system, including infection with HIV or the presence of AIDS
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin
- Persistent fatigue
- Night sweating
- Coughing
- Unexplained fever
- Weight loss
- Itching
- Decreased appetite
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done, paying particular attention to your lymph nodes.
Your bodily fluids and tissues may be tested. This can be done with:
- Blood tests
- Lymph node biopsy
Your internal bodily structures may need to be viewed. This can be done with:
- CT scan
- Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan
- Gallium scan
Abdominal surgery may be needed to remove the spleen and to biopsy the liver. This is not common because of the accuracy of noninvasive scans.
Treatment
Treatment
Hodgkin lymphoma is generally considered one of the more curable forms of cancer. Treatment options include:
Chemotherapy and External Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy is
the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms, including pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.
In radiation therapy, radiation is directed at the tumor from a source outside the body to kill the cancer cells.
In many cases, both chemotherapy and radiation are used to cure a patient of Hodgkin lymphoma. The choice of treatments will be based on:
- Extent of disease—the stage
- Location of the affected lymph node(s)
- Other factors that your doctor will discuss with you
It is important that you be seen by both the medical oncologist to discuss chemotherapy and the radiation oncologist to discuss the radiation therapy. The best treatment results come from a discussion and integrated approach.
If the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation, the outcome is usually poor. There are some treatment options available, including:
- Bone marrow transplantation —Bone marrow is removed. Large doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are then applied to kill the cancer cells. After treatment, the bone marrow is replaced via a vein. Transplanted bone marrow may be from your bone marrow that was treated to remove cancer cells or marrow from a healthy donor.
- Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation —Stem cells are very immature cells that produce blood cells. They are removed from circulating blood before chemotherapy or radiation treatment and then replaced after treatment.
Splenectomy
Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen, an organ that is part of the lymphatic system. In some cases, splenectomy is recommended in people who have lymphoma.
Prevention
Prevention
There are no guidelines for preventing Hodgkin lymphoma because the cause is unknown.
RESOURCES:
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
References:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkindisease/detailedguide/index
Accessed March 3, 2014.
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed
Updated September 22, 2014. Accessed February 25, 2015.
Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/hodgkin
Accessed February 25, 2015.
Indications for splenectomy. The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract website. Available at:
http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/spleen7.cgi
Updated May 2003. Accessed February 25, 2015.
Last Updated: 3/18/2013