hematology and oncology
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Introduction
Hodgkin lymphoma is a localized or disseminated malignant proliferation of cells of the lymphoreticular system, primarily involving lymph node tissue, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Symptoms typically include painless lymphadenopathy, sometimes with fever, night sweats, unintentional weight loss, pruritus, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Diagnosis is based on lymph node biopsy. Treatment is curative in most cases and consists of chemotherapy with or without other treatment modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. (See also Overview of Lymphoma .) In the US, about 8,000 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma are diagnosed annually, and about 900 people die of the disease. The male:female ratio is 1.4:1. Hodgkin lymphoma is rare before age 10 and is most common between ages 15 and 40; a 2nd peak occurs in people > 60. 