Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Overview, Diagnosis, Treatment
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, including Reed-Sternberg cells, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and survival rate statistics.
At a Glance
- 1 - There is no non-cancerous or benign form of Hodgkin's disease.
- 2 - Improved treatment has cut Hodgkin's disease death rates by over sixty percent since the early 1970s.
- 3 - The disease is named for Thomas Hodgkin, who documented cases clearly in an 1832 article on the absorbent glands and spleen.
- 4 - Reed-Sternberg cells, believed to be a type of B-lymphocyte malignancy, are unique to Hodgkin's lymphoma and appear different under a microscope.
Topic Definition
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin's Lymphoma, once known as Hodgkin's disease, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, the network of tissues and vessels that forms part of the body's immune defenses. What sets it apart from other lymphomas is the presence of large, abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, which doctors believe arise from B-lymphocytes and which look distinct under a microscope, helping pathologists tell it apart from the more common non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Because lymphatic tissue exists throughout the body, the disease can begin almost anywhere, enlarging lymph nodes and pressing on nearby structures, and in less common cases spreading through the bloodstream to organs such as the lungs or liver. Diagnosis usually relies on a lymph node biopsy along with imaging and blood tests, and treatment, which may involve radiation, chemotherapy, or stem cell transplantation, has improved so much over recent decades that survival rates are now high, especially when the disease is found and treated early.
Overview
Defining Hodgkin's Disease
Hodgkin's lymphoma, formerly known as Hodgkin's disease, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, part of your immune system. Hodgkin's lymphoma may be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with the choice of treatment depending on the age and sex of the patient and the stage, bulk, and histological subtype of the disease. The overall five-year survival rate in the United States from 2004 to 2010 is 85%.
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has included Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma as a Compassionate Allowance to expedite a disability claim.
Thomas Hodgkin (1798-1866) was an English Scholar who became famous for his research on the disease, and it was named for him. The disease was first written about in 1666 by Malpighi. Still, it was Thomas Hodgkin's article in 1832 titled, 'On Some Morbid Appearances of the Absorbent Glands and Spleen' where cases of Hodgkin's Lymphoma became documented clearly. Other forms of lymphomas are classified as 'Non-Hodgkin's' and happen more often than Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma is unique because of the presence of cells that are referred to as 'Reed-Sternberg' cells around the malignancy. These cells, along with other forms, are specific to Hodgkin's Disease and appear different under a microscope from other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and other cancer cells. Reed-Sternberg cells are something that doctors believe to be a kind of B-lymphocyte malignancy; normal B-lymphocytes are the form of cells that human antibodies use to fight off infections.
Lymphatic tissues are present in several parts of the human body, and Hodgkin's Disease can begin nearly anywhere. Hodgkin's malignancies enlarge lymphatic tissues, then create pressure upon important structures. Cancerous cells can spread around lymphatic tissues and into vessels that support them, and upon getting into the blood vessels, can spread to other sites in the human body such as the lungs or liver; although this is not as common.
There are various reasons that lymphatic tissue can become enlarged, one of which is Hodgkin's Disease. More commonly, it is because the body is fighting off some form of infection, and Hodgkin's Disease is difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, there is no non-cancerous or benign form of Hodgkin's Disease. Hodgkin's Disease does not pose a risk to others once a person has it.
Hodgkin's lymphoma must be distinguished from non-cancerous causes of lymph node swelling (such as various infections) and other types of cancer. Definitive diagnosis is lymph node biopsy (usually excisional biopsy with microscopic examination). Blood tests are also performed to assess major organs' function and safety for chemotherapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) detect small deposits that do not show on CT scanning. PET scans are also useful in functional imaging (by using radio-labeled glucose to image tissues of high metabolism). Sometimes, a Gallium Scan may be used instead of a PET scan.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Facts and Statistics
- The appearance of Hodgkin's Disease in children under five years old is very rare, and for children under ten years of age, Hodgkin's Disease is more common for boys than girls.
- Around 10 to 15% of every case of Hodgkin's Disease occurs in children under sixteen.
- The largest age group of people who are diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease are young adults or those in the age range of fifteen through forty years of age; most commonly those who are twenty-five to thirty years old, or people who are in late adulthood - older than fifty-five.
- In the year 2000, the American Cancer Society estimated that about 7,400 new cases of Hodgkin's Disease would be diagnosed in the United States. Of these cases, 3,200 of them would occur in women, and 4,200 in men.
- The Leukemia Society of America estimates that male siblings of Hodgkin's patients are at a slightly higher risk of developing Hodgkin's Disease, even if it does remain a rare occurrence.
- An estimated 1,400 people died of Hodgkin's Disease in America in 2000.
- Improved treatment of Hodgkin's Disease has caused the death rates to fall by over sixty percent since the early 1970s.
- The American Cancer Society states that the one-year survival rate after treatment of Hodgkin's Disease is now at 93% and that the five-year rate is at 82%.
- The ten-year survival rate, according to them, is now at 72%.
- At fifteen years, the survival rate stands at 63%.
- The main cause of death for persons with Hodgkin's Disease is a recurrence of it. Death due to other causes is most common for people who have survived the fifteen to twenty-year mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Common signs include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, along with fatigue, fever, night sweats, itching, and unexplained weight loss.
Is Hodgkin's lymphoma curable
Hodgkin's lymphoma is considered one of the more treatable cancers, and many people achieve long term remission, especially when it is diagnosed at an early stage.
What is the difference between Hodgkin and non Hodgkin lymphoma
The key difference is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma, while non Hodgkin lymphomas lack these cells and are more common and varied.
Is Hodgkin's lymphoma hereditary
It is not directly inherited, but having a sibling with the disease may slightly raise risk, so family history can be one factor among many.
How is the stage of Hodgkin's lymphoma determined
Staging is based on how many lymph node areas are involved and whether the cancer has spread, using biopsy results and imaging tests such as PET and CT scans.
Can Hodgkin's lymphoma come back after treatment
Yes, the disease can recur after treatment, which is why ongoing follow up care and monitoring are an important part of long term management.
Can you catch Hodgkin's lymphoma from someone who has it
No, Hodgkin's lymphoma is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another through contact.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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