What is Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare cancer known in the past as Hodgkin's Disease that accounts for less than 1% of all cancer cases in the United States. Hodgkin lymphoma develops from B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that normally produces proteins called antibodies that fight infection. Lymphocytes can be found in lymphoid tissue, which can be found throughout the body, in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and digestive tract. Hodgkin lymphoma usually first starts in lymph nodes in the chest, neck, or underarms. However, Hodgkin lymphoma can also develop in other lymph nodes or lymphoid tissue in other parts of the body. It can also spread through the lymph system or bloodstream to other organs and parts of the body. The cancerous lymphocytes of Hodgkin lymphoma are called Reed-Sternberg cells, which look and behave differently than do normal lymphocytes and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells. There are two primary categories of Hodgkin lymphoma: classical and lymphocyte-predominant.
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Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma makes up about 95% of all cases of the disease. There are four main subtypes of classical Hodgkin lymphoma:
Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma
This type of classical Hodgkin lymphoma commonly begins in the lymph nodes in the neck or chest. It accounts for about 60% to 80% of all cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. People of any age may develop Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma, but it develops mostly in adolescents and young adults.
Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma
This form of Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for about 25% to 30% of all cases and is the second most common type. Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma usually begins in lymph nodes in the upper half of the body and contains a mixture of Reed-Sternberg cells, normal lymphocytes, and several other types of normal cells. This form of Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in older adults.
Lymphocyte Rich Hodgkin Lymphoma
This type of Hodgkin lymphoma usually forms in lymph nodes in the top half of the body and affects only a few lymph nodes. It accounts for about 5% of all cases of Hodgkin lymphoma and has a higher proportion of normal cells to Reed-Sternberg cells than does mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphocyte Depleted Hodgkin Lymphoma
This is the rarest type of Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of the disease. This type of Hodgkin lymphoma may start in abdominal lymph nodes, the spleen, the liver, or bone marrow, and is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. This form of the disease contains many Reed-Sternberg cells and very few other types. It mainly affects older people.
Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma
This is a rare form of Hodgkin lymphoma that accounts for about 5% of all cases of the disease. This was recently also classified as "nodular lymphocyte predominant B-cell lymphoma". This form of Hodgkin lymphoma usually begins in lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, or groin, and is classified by different growth patterns. This form of the disease is more common in men than in women, and often develops in people between the ages of 35 and 40. Fortunately, doctors can often diagnose Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma at an early stage with an excellent prognosis.
