Hodgkin Lymphoma

Summary

What is Hodgkin lymphoma?

Hodgkin lymphoma, also called Hodgkin disease, is a type of cancer that develops in the lymph system. Your lymph system is part of your immune system. It helps protect your body from infection and disease.

The lymph system is made up of tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells. It includes your:

• Bone marrow
• Lymph nodes
• Lymphatic vessels
• Spleen
• Thymus
• Tonsils

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the main types of lymphoma. The other is non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Each type starts in different types of white blood cells.

What causes Hodgkin lymphoma?

The cause of Hodgkin lymphoma is unknown. But there are certain people who are at higher risk of developing it.

Who is more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma?

Certain factors can make you more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma:

• Age. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in early adulthood (age 20-39 years) and in late adulthood (age 65 years and older).
• Being male. The risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma is slightly higher in males than in females.
• Past Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Having an infection with EBV as a young child or teenager increases your risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
• A family history of Hodgkin lymphoma. Having a parent or sibling with Hodgkin lymphoma increases your risk of developing it.

What are the symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma?

The signs and symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include:

• Painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin
• Fever for no known reason
• Drenching night sweats (very heavy sweating during sleep)
• Weight loss for no known reason in the past 6 months
• Itchy skin, especially after bathing or drinking alcohol
• Fatigue

How is Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed?

To find out if you have Hodgkin lymphoma, your provider:

• Will ask about your symptoms and medical history. This will include checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
• May order some lab tests, such as:
  • Complete blood count
  • Blood chemistry studies
  • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test
  • Blood tests to rule out other medical conditions
  • May do imaging tests such as a CT and PET (positron emission tomography) scans
  • May do a lymph node biopsy

What are the treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells
• Cancer immunotherapy

Hodgkin lymphoma can usually be cured if it is found and treated early.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Lymphoma Research Foundation Lymphoma Research Foundation
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• Blood Count Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Bone Marrow Test National Library of Medicine
• Needle Biopsy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• PDL1 (Immunotherapy) Tests National Library of Medicine
• Stages of Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Stages of Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Hodgkin Lymphoma American Cancer Society

Encyclopedia

• Bone marrow biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Ferritin blood test Medical Encyclopedia
• Mediastinoscopy with biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• T-cell count Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Bone Marrow Transplantation: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Drugs Approved for Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Treating Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma American Cancer Society
• Treatment Option Overview (Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma) National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma) National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Options for Primary Refractory/Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents National Cancer Institute

Patient Handouts

• Chest radiation – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Hodgkin lymphoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Hodgkin lymphoma in children Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hodgkin Disease National Institutes of Health

Start Here

• General Information about Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What Is Hodgkin Lymphoma? American Cancer Society

Related Issues

• General Information about AIDS-Related Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Getting the Facts: Cancer-Related Fatigue Lymphoma Research Foundation
• What’s the Difference between Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Children

• General Information about Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute

Statistics and Research

• Hodgkin Lymphoma National Cancer Institute
• Key Statistics for Hodgkin Lymphoma American Cancer Society
• What’s New In Hodgkin Lymphoma Research? American Cancer Society

Teenagers

• Hodgkin Lymphoma (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk Factors American Cancer Society

Living With

• Living As a Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor American Cancer Society

Journal Articles

• Hodgkin Lymphoma