Hodgkin Lymphoma
Also known as: HL, Hodgkin disease
A type of lymphoma defined by the presence of distinctive Reed-Sternberg cells.
Definition
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the two main categories of lymphoma, defined by the presence of large, distinctive Reed-Sternberg cells on the biopsy. It most often appears in young adults and older adults as painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, chest or armpit, sometimes with fevers, night sweats or unexplained weight loss.
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the great success stories of modern oncology: with appropriate chemotherapy, often combined with radiation, most patients — including those with advanced disease — can be cured. Immunotherapy and targeted drugs provide effective options for relapsed cases.
See also
- Lymphoma — A cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune defence.
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma — A large group of lymphomas that lack Reed-Sternberg cells and behave very differently from Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Chemotherapy — Drug treatment that kills cancer cells throughout the body.
- Radiation Therapy — Treatment that uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells in a targeted area.
- Remission — A reduction or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer after treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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