Ask AI

Library

Updates

Loading...

Table of contents

Expand All Topics

Hodgkin's lymphoma

Background

Overview

Definition
HL is a rare lymphatic neoplasm, typically of B-cell origin, characterized by large malignant lymphoid cells, and Reed-Sternberg cells.
1
Pathophysiology
HL is most frequently caused by the EBV. Other causes include tuberculosis and genetic factors (HLA class II polymorphisms).
2
Epidemiology
HL incidence in the US is estimated at 3.23 per 100,000 people per year.
3
Disease course
Clinical manifestations include painless lymphadenopathy enlarging over months, mainly involving the mediastinum, left neck node, right neck node, splenic, axillary, abdominal, hilar, or inguinofemoral nodes in descending order. The clinically occult disease is characterized by severe unremitting pruritus without obvious skin pathology. B symptoms include fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss > 10% of body weight. Alcohol-induced lymph node pain is highly specific for HL.
4
Prognosis and risk of recurrence
Prognosis is determined by disease stage (i.e. best prognosis in early-stage HL) and pathology (i.e. better prognosis in Nodular sclerosis cHL).
4

Guidelines

Key sources

The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of Hodgkin's lymphoma are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the British Society for Haematology (BSH 2022), the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT/EBMT/CIBMTR 2019), the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO 2018), and the British Committee for Standards In Haematology (BCSH/BSH 2016).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8