Hodgkin disease: A type of lymphoma

Hodgkin disease is a type of lymphoma. Lymphoma is a type ofcancer that begins in the lymphocytes (white blood cells). Hodgkin disease is one of two types of lymphomas. The other type of lymphoma is called Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin disease and Non-Hodgkin disease differ in the way that they behave, spread, and respond to treatment. 

It is estimated that for 2015, there will be about 9,050 new cases of this type of cancer and about 1,150 deaths from it. Both children and adults can develop Hodgkin disease. It is most commonly found in younger adults between the ages 15 and 40, and is most often found in people in their 20s. It is also commonly found in people older than 55. It is much rare in children, especially those younger than five years old. About 10 to 15 percent of cases are diagnosed in children and teens. 

The signs and symptoms of Hodgkin disease may include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever and chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, itching, increased sensitivity to alcohol or pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol. 

Risk factors for Hodgkin disease:

• Gender: Males are more likely to develop Hodgkin disease than females.

• Age: People can develop Hodgkin disease at any age, but it is most common in early adulthood (ages 15 to 40, especially in a person’s 20s) and in late adulthood (after age 55).

• Family history: Having a family history of Hodgkin disease increases your risk for developing it. This is especially true if you have a brother or sister who has had Hodkin disease. The risk is even higher for a sibling who is an identical twin. 

• Epstein-Barr virus infection/mononucleosis: People who have had infectious mononucleosis an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), have an increased risk of Hodgkin disease. 

• HIV infection: The risk of Hodgkin disease is increased in people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

• Geographic location: Hodgkin disease is most common in the United States, Canada, and northern Europe, and is least common in Asian countries.

Tests and procedures used to diagnose Hodgkin’s lymphoma include a physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes and a swollen spleen or liver, blood tests, imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, or PET, surgery to remove a swollen lymph node which is sent to a lab for testing, or a bone marrow biopsy to look for signs of cancer in the bone marrow.