Hodgkin lymphoma#Notable cases

People with Hodgkin lymphoma may present with these symptoms:

• Lymphadenopathy: The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is the painless enlargement of one or more lymph nodes.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ansell SM | title = Hodgkin Lymphoma: Diagnosis and Treatment | journal = Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume = 90 | issue = 11 | pages = 1574–83 | date = November 2015 | pmid = 26541251 | doi = 10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005 | doi-access = free }} The nodes may also feel rubbery and swollen when examined. The nodes of the neck, armpits and groin (cervical and supraclavicular) are most frequently involved (80–90% of the time, on average). The lymph nodes of the chest are often affected, and these may be noticed on a chest radiograph.
• Systemic symptoms: About one-third of people with Hodgkin lymphoma may also present with systemic symptoms, including:{{cite web|url=https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/lymphomas/hodgkin-lymphoma |title=Hodgkin Lymphoma |date=March 2024 |work=Merck Manual Professional|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628152441/https://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec11/ch143/ch143b.html|archive-date=28 June 2009|access-date=18 June 2009}}
• Itchy skin
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss of at least 10% of the person's total body mass in six months or less
• Low-grade fever.
• Fatigue (lassitude)
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, night sweats, and weight loss are known as B symptoms; thus, presence of these indicate that the person's stage is, for example, 2B instead of 2A.
• Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen is often present in people with Hodgkin lymphoma. The enlargement is seldom massive, and the size of the spleen may fluctuate during the course of treatment.
• Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver, due to liver involvement, is infrequent in people with Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Hepatosplenomegaly: The enlargement of both the liver and spleen can be caused by the same disease.
• Pain following alcohol consumption: Classically, involved nodes are painful after alcohol consumption, though this phenomenon is very uncommon,{{cite journal | vauthors = Bobrove AM | title = Alcohol-related pain and Hodgkin's disease | journal = The Western Journal of Medicine | volume = 138 | issue = 6 | pages = 874–5 | date = June 1983 | pmid = 6613116 | pmc = 1010854 }} occurring in only two to three percent of people with Hodgkin lymphoma,[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkWAmFkK-7cC&pg=PA242 Page 242] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920094135/https://books.google.com/books?id=SkWAmFkK-7cC&pg=PA242 |date=20 September 2015 }} in: {{cite book |author= John Kearsley |title= Cancer: A Comprehensive Clinical Guide |publisher= Taylor & Francis |year=1998 |isbn= 978-90-5702-215-9 }} thus having a low sensitivity. On the other hand, its positive predictive value is high enough for it to be regarded as a pathognomonic sign of Hodgkin lymphoma. The pain typically has an onset within minutes after ingesting alcohol, and is usually felt as coming from the vicinity where there is an involved lymph node. The pain has been described as either sharp and stabbing or dull and aching.
• Back pain: Nonspecific back pain (pain that cannot be localised or its cause determined by examination or scanning techniques) has been reported in some cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. The lower back is most often affected.{{cite web |url=https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/hodgkin-lymphoma/| title=Hodgkin Lymphoma

|website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date= 25 July 2021}}

• Cyclical fever: People may also present with a cyclical high-grade fever known as the Pel–Ebstein fever,{{cite book |vauthors=Hodgon DC, Gospodarowicz MK |veditors=Hoppe RT, Mauch PT, Armitage JO, Diehl V, Weiss LM | title = Hodgkin's disease | edition = 2nd | year = 2007 | publisher = Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | isbn = 978-0-7817-6422-3 | pages = 123–132 | chapter = Clinical Evaluation and Staging of Hodgkin Lymphoma }} or more simply "P-E fever". However, there is debate as to whether the P-E fever truly exists.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hilson AJ | title = Pel-Ebstein fever | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 333 | issue = 1 | pages = 66–7 | date = July 1995 | pmid = 7777006 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM199507063330118 }}
• Nephrotic syndrome can occur in individuals with Hodgkin lymphoma and is most commonly caused by minimal change disease.{{cite journal | vauthors = Audard V, Zhang SY, Copie-Bergman C, Rucker-Martin C, Ory V, Candelier M, Baia M, Lang P, Pawlak A, Sahali D | title = Occurrence of minimal change nephrotic syndrome in classic Hodgkin lymphoma is closely related to the induction of c-mip in Hodgkin-Reed Sternberg cells and podocytes | journal = Blood | volume = 115 | issue = 18 | pages = 3756–62 | date = May 2010 | pmid = 20200355 | pmc = 2890576 | doi = 10.1182/blood-2009-11-251132 }}
• May present with airway obstruction, pleural/pericardial effusion, hepatocellular dysfunction, or bone-marrow infiltration.

Hodgkin lymphoma must be distinguished from noncancerous causes of lymph node swelling (such as various infections) and from other types of cancer. Definitive diagnosis is by lymph node biopsy (usually excisional biopsy with microscopic examination). Blood tests are also performed to assess function of major organs and safety for chemotherapy.{{cite web |title=Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis {{!}} Tests for Hodgkin Lymphoma |url=https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=www.cancer.org }} Positron emission tomography (PET) is used to detect small deposits that do not show on CT scanning. PET scans are also useful in functional imaging (by using a radiolabeled glucose to image tissues of high metabolism). In some cases, a gallium scan may be used instead of a PET scan.{{cite journal |last1=Lennon |first1=Anne Marie |last2=Buchanan |first2=Adam H. |last3=Kinde |first3=Isaac |last4=Warren |first4=Andrew |last5=Honushefsky |first5=Ashley |last6=Cohain |first6=Ariella T. |last7=Ledbetter |first7=David H. |last8=Sanfilippo |first8=Fred |last9=Sheridan |first9=Kathleen |last10=Rosica |first10=Dillenia |last11=Adonizio |first11=Christian S. |last12=Hwang |first12=Hee Jung |last13=Lahouel |first13=Kamel |last14=Cohen |first14=Joshua D. |last15=Douville |first15=Christopher |date=3 July 2020 |title=Feasibility of blood testing combined with PET-CT to screen for cancer and guide intervention |journal=Science |volume=369 |issue=6499 |pages=eabb9601 |doi=10.1126/science.abb9601 |pmc=7509949 |pmid=32345712}}

The two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classic Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. The prevalence of classic Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular-lymphocyte Hodgkin lymphoma are about 90% and 10%, respectively.{{cite journal | vauthors = McKay P, Fielding P, Gallop-Evans E, Hall GW, Lambert J, Leach M, Marafioti T, McNamara C | title = Guidelines for the investigation and management of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma | journal = British Journal of Haematology | volume = 172 | issue = 1 | pages = 32–43 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26538004 | doi = 10.1111/bjh.13842 | doi-access = free }} The morphology, phenotype, molecular features, and, therefore, the clinical behaviour and presentation of the two types differ.{{cite journal|last1=Re|first1=Daniel|last2=Thomas|first2=Roman K.|last3=Behringer|first3=Karolin|last4=Diehl|first4=Volker|date=15 June 2005|title=From Hodgkin disease to Hodgkin lymphoma: biologic insights and therapeutic potential|url=https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/105/12/4553/19699/From-Hodgkin-disease-to-Hodgkin-lymphoma-biologic|journal=Blood|volume=105|issue=12|pages=4553–60|doi=10.1182/blood-2004-12-4750|pmid=15728122|s2cid=8192701|doi-access=free|archive-date=22 August 2021|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822212121/https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/105/12/4553/19699/From-Hodgkin-disease-to-Hodgkin-lymphoma-biologic|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (excluding nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma) can be subclassified into four pathologic subtypes based upon Reed–Sternberg cell morphology and the composition of the reactive cell infiltrate seen in the lymph node biopsy specimen (the cell composition around the Reed–Sternberg cell(s)). Presence of EBV in Reed-Sternberg cells is most commonly found in the subtypes lymphocyte depleted HL (>70%) and mixed cellularity HL (70%), whilst being less prevalent in lymphocyte-rich HL (40%) and relatively uncommon by comparison in nodular sclerosing HL.{{cite journal |last1=Gobbi |first1=Paolo G. |last2=Ferreri |first2=Andrés J.M. |last3=Ponzoni |first3=Maurilio |last4=Levis |first4=Alessandro |date=February 2013 |title=Hodgkin lymphoma |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1040842812001382 |journal=Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology |volume=85 |issue=2 |pages=216–237 |doi=10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.07.002 |pmid=22867814 |s2cid=27274760 |archive-date=17 October 2022 |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017005716/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1040842812001382 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |last1=Gandhi |first1=Maher K. |last2=Tellam |first2=Judy T. |last3=Khanna |first3=Rajiv |date=May 2004 |title=Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin's lymphoma: Review |journal=British Journal of Haematology |volume=125 |issue=3 |pages=267–281 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.04902.x|pmid=15086409 |s2cid=2355660 |doi-access=free }}

File:Hodgkin lymphoma (1) mixed cellulary type.jpg showing Hodgkin lymphoma, mixed-cellularity type]]

File:Hodgkin Lymphoma CT2.jpg

For the other forms, although the traditional B-cell markers (such as CD20) are not expressed on all cells, Reed–Sternberg cells are usually of B cell origin.{{cite journal | vauthors = Küppers R, Schwering I, Bräuninger A, Rajewsky K, Hansmann ML | title = Biology of Hodgkin's lymphoma | journal = Annals of Oncology | volume = 13 | pages = 11–8 | year = 2002 | issue = Suppl 1 | pmid = 12078890 | doi = 10.1093/annonc/13.S1.11 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Bräuninger A, Schmitz R, Bechtel D, Renné C, Hansmann ML, Küppers R | title = Molecular biology of Hodgkin's and Reed/Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma | journal = International Journal of Cancer | volume = 118 | issue = 8 | pages = 1853–61 | date = April 2006 | pmid = 16385563 | doi = 10.1002/ijc.21716 | doi-access = free }} Although Hodgkin lymphoma is now frequently grouped with other B-cell malignancies, some T-cell markers (such as CD2 and CD4) are occasionally expressed.{{cite journal | vauthors = Tzankov A, Bourgau C, Kaiser A, Zimpfer A, Maurer R, Pileri SA, Went P, Dirnhofer S | title = Rare expression of T-cell markers in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma | journal = Modern Pathology | volume = 18 | issue = 12 | pages = 1542–9 | date = December 2005 | pmid = 16056244 | doi = 10.1038/modpathol.3800473 | s2cid = 22493125 | doi-access = free }}

Hodgkin cells produce interleukin-21 (IL-21), which was once thought to be exclusive to T-cells. This feature may explain the behavior of classic Hodgkin lymphoma, including clusters of other immune cells gathered around HL cells (infiltrate) in cultures.{{cite journal | vauthors = Lamprecht B, Kreher S, Anagnostopoulos I, Jöhrens K, Monteleone G, Jundt F, Stein H, Janz M, Dörken B, Mathas S | title = Aberrant expression of the Th2 cytokine IL-21 in Hodgkin lymphoma cells regulates STAT3 signaling and attracts Treg cells via regulation of MIP-3alpha | journal = Blood | volume = 112 | issue = 8 | pages = 3339–47 | date = October 2008 | pmid = 18684866 | doi = 10.1182/blood-2008-01-134783 | doi-access = free }}

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is another subtype of Hodgkin lymphoma distinct from classic Hodgkin lymphoma and is characterized by the presence of popcorn cells which express CD20.{{cite book|title=WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues|last=Swerdlow |first=Steven H. |publisher=International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization|isbn=978-92-832-4494-3|edition=Revised 4th|location=Lyon|oclc=1011064243|date = 18 September 2017}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Ansell S | year = 2015 | title = Hodgkin Lymphoma: Diagnosis and Treatment | journal = Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume = 90 | issue = 11| pages = 1574–1583 | doi = 10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.005 | pmid = 26541251 | doi-access = free }} Due to these differences, among others, NLPHL is often treated differently from classic Hodgkin lymphoma, including using rituximab in combination with AVBD chemotherapy, though individual cases vary and clinical trials are ongoing.

The staging is the same for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

After Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed, a person will be staged by undergoing a series of tests and procedures that will determine what areas of the body are affected. These procedures may include documentation of their histology, a physical examination, blood tests, chest X-ray radiographs, computed tomography (CT)/positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and usually a bone marrow biopsy. PET scan is now used instead of the gallium scan for staging. On the PET scan, sites involved with lymphoma light up very brightly enabling accurate and reproducible imaging.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hofman MS, Smeeton NC, Rankin SC, Nunan T, O'Doherty MJ | title = Observer variation in interpreting 18F-FDG PET/CT findings for lymphoma staging | journal = Journal of Nuclear Medicine | volume = 50 | issue = 10 | pages = 1594–7 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19759113 | doi = 10.2967/jnumed.109.064121 | s2cid = 11505564 | doi-access = free }} In the past, a lymphangiogram or surgical laparotomy (which involves opening the abdominal cavity and visually inspecting for tumors) were performed. Lymphangiograms or laparotomies are very rarely performed, having been supplanted by improvements in imaging with the CT scan and PET scan.

On the basis of this staging, the person will be classified according to a staging classification (the Ann Arbor staging classification scheme is a common one):{{cite book |author=((PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board |title=PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet] |date=8 April 2022 |chapter=Table 4. Ann Arbor Staging Classification for Hodgkin Lymphomaa |chapter-url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65726/table/CDR0000062933__557/ |id=NBK65726}}

• Stage I is involvement of a single lymph node region (I) (mostly the cervical region) or single extralymphatic site (Ie);
• Stage II is involvement of two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (II) or of one lymph node region and a contiguous extralymphatic site (IIe);
• Stage III is involvement of lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm, which may include the spleen (IIIs) or limited contiguous extralymphatic organ or site (IIIe, IIIes);
• Stage IV is disseminated involvement of one or more extralymphatic organs.

The absence of systemic symptoms is signified by adding "A" to the stage; the presence of systemic symptoms is signified by adding "B" to the stage. For localized extranodal extension from mass of nodes that does not advance the stage, subscript "E" is added. Splenic involvement is signified by adding "S" to the stage. The inclusion of "bulky disease" is signified by "X".{{cite book |last1=Sapkota |first1=Sumina |title=Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma |date=2022 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559328/ |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32644754 |access-date=9 November 2022 |last2=Shaikh |first2=Hira}}

File:Diagram showing stage 1 Hogkin's lymphoma CRUK 191.svg|Stage 1 Hodgkin lymphoma

File:Diagram showing stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma CRUK 208.svg|Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma

File:Diagram showing stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma CRUK 221.svg|Stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma

File:Diagram showing stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma CRUK 230.svg|Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma

Affected lymph nodes (most often, laterocervical lymph nodes) are enlarged, but their shape is preserved because the capsule is not invaded. Usually, the cut surface is white-grey and uniform; in some histological subtypes (e.g. nodular sclerosis) a nodular aspect may appear.{{cite book |last1=Baba |first1=Alecsandru Ioan |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9562/ |title=TUMORS OF HEMATOPOIETIC AND LYMPHOID TISSUES |last2=Câtoi |first2=Cornel |date=2007 |publisher=The Publishing House of the Romanian Academy |archive-date=10 September 2017 |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910174530/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9562/ |url-status=live }}

A fibrin ring granuloma may be seen.

File:Reed-Sternberg lymphocyte nci-vol-7172-300.jpg of a classic Reed–Sternberg cell]]

File:Popcorn cell in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma - very high mag cropped.jpg showing a "popcorn cell", the Reed–Sternberg cell variant seen in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. H&E stain.]]

Microscopic examination of the lymph node biopsy reveals complete or partial effacement of the lymph node architecture by scattered large malignant cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells (RSC) (typical and variants) admixed within a reactive cell infiltrate composed of variable proportions of lymphocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells. The Reed–Sternberg cells are identified as large often bi-nucleated cells with prominent nucleoli and an unusual CD45−, CD30+, CD15+/− immunophenotype. In approximately 50% of cases, the Reed–Sternberg cells are infected by the Epstein–Barr virus.{{cite journal | vauthors = Vockerodt M, Cader FZ, Shannon-Lowe C, Murray P | title = Epstein-Barr virus and the origin of Hodgkin lymphoma | journal = Chinese Journal of Cancer | volume = 33 | issue = 12 | pages = 591–7 | date = December 2014 | doi = 10.5732/cjc.014.10193 | doi-broken-date = 30 December 2024 | pmid = 25418190 | pmc = 4308654 }}

Characteristics of classic Reed–Sternberg cells include large size (20–50 micrometres), abundant, amphophilic, finely granular/homogeneous cytoplasm; two mirror-image nuclei (owl eyes) each with an eosinophilic nucleolus and a thick nuclear membrane (chromatin is distributed close to the nuclear membrane). Almost all of these cells have an increased copy number of chromosome 9p/9p24.1.{{cite journal | vauthors = Wienand K, Chapuy B, Stewart C, Dunford AJ, Wu D, Kim J, Kamburov A, Wood TR, Cader FZ, Ducar MD, Thorner AR, Nag A, Heubeck AT, Buonopane MJ, Redd RA, Bojarczuk K, Lawton LN, Armand P, Rodig SJ, Fromm JR, Getz G, Shipp MA | title = Genomic analyses of flow-sorted Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells reveal complementary mechanisms of immune evasion | journal = Blood Advances | volume = 3 | issue = 23 | pages = 4065–4080 | date = December 2019 | pmid = 31816062 | doi = 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001012 | pmc = 6963251 }}

Variants:

• Hodgkin cell (atypical mononuclear RSC) is a variant of RS cell, which has the same characteristics but is mononucleated.{{cite book |last1=Aggarwal |first1=Payal |title=Reed Sternberg Cells |date=2022 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542333/ |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=31194473 |access-date=9 November 2022 |last2=Limaiem |first2=Faten}}
• Lacunar RSC is large, with a single hyperlobulated nucleus, multiple, small nucleoli and eosinophilic cytoplasm which is retracted around the nucleus, creating an empty space ("lacunae").
• Pleomorphic RSC has multiple irregular nuclei.
• "Popcorn" RSC (lympho-histiocytic variant) is a small cell, with a very lobulated nucleus, small nucleoli.
• "Mummy" RSC has a compact nucleus with no nucleolus and basophilic cytoplasm.

Hodgkin lymphoma can be sub-classified by histological type. The cell histology in Hodgkin lymphoma is not as important as it is in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the treatment and prognosis in classic Hodgkin lymphoma usually depends on the stage of disease rather than the histotype.{{cite web

| url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hodgkin-lymphoma/treatment/

| title=Hodgkin lymphoma

| website=NHS

| date=23 October 2017

| access-date=25 July 2021

| archive-date=25 July 2021

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725082847/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hodgkin-lymphoma/treatment/

| url-status=live

}}

The approach for treatment aims to reduce the acute and long-term toxicities associated with Hodgkin lymphoma (e.g. cardiac damage and secondary cancers) and increase overall survival.

People with early stage disease (IA or IIA) can be treated effectively with radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The choice of treatment depends on the age, sex, bulk and the histological subtype of the disease.

Adding localised radiation therapy after the chemotherapy regimen may provide a longer progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy treatment alone.{{Cite journal |last=Goldkuhle |first=Marius |last2=Kreuzberger |first2=Nina |last3=von Tresckow |first3=Bastian |last4=Eichenauer |first4=Dennis A. |last5=Specht |first5=Lena |last6=Monsef |first6=Ina |last7=Skoetz |first7=Nicole |date=2 December 2024 |title=Chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for adults with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=12 |issue=12 |pages=CD007110 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007110.pub4 |issn=1469-493X |pmc=11609930 |pmc-embargo-date=2025-12-02 |pmid=39620432}} People with later disease (III, IVA, or IVB) are treated with combination chemotherapy alone. People of any stage with a large mass in the chest are usually treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy.{{cite journal |last1=Perri |first1=Francesco |last2=Della Vittoria Scarpati |first2=Giuseppina |last3=Buonerba |first3=Carlo |last4=Di Lorenzo |first4=Giuseppe |last5=Longo |first5=Francesco |last6=Muto |first6=Paolo |last7=Schiavone |first7=Concetta |last8=Sandomenico |first8=Fabio |last9=Caponigro |first9=Francesco |date=10 May 2013 |title=Combined chemo-radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinomas |journal=World Journal of Clinical Oncology |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=47–51 |doi=10.5306/wjco.v4.i2.47 |pmc=3659263 |pmid=23696962 |doi-access=free }}

The common non-Hodgkin treatment, rituximab (which is a monoclonal antibody against CD20) is not routinely used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma due to the lack of CD20 surface antigens in most cases. The use of rituximab in Hodgkin lymphoma, including the lymphocyte predominant subtype has been reviewed.{{cite journal | vauthors = Saini KS, Azim HA, Cocorocchio E, Vanazzi A, Saini ML, Raviele PR, Pruneri G, Peccatori FA | title = Rituximab in Hodgkin lymphoma: is the target always a hit? | journal = Cancer Treatment Reviews | volume = 37 | issue = 5 | pages = 385–90 | date = August 2011 | pmid = 21183282 | doi = 10.1016/j.ctrv.2010.11.005 }} The evidence is uncertain about the effect of nivolumab for people with a Hodgkin lymphoma e.g. on the overall survival.{{cite journal |last1=Ekstrand |first1=Bradley C. |last2=Lucas |first2=Jennifer B. |last3=Horwitz |first3=Steven M. |last4=Fan |first4=Zhen |last5=Breslin |first5=Sheila |last6=Hoppe |first6=Richard T. |last7=Natkunam |first7=Yasodha |last8=Bartlett |first8=Nancy L. |last9=Horning |first9=Sandra J. |date=1 June 2003 |title=Rituximab in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease: results of a phase 2 trial |journal=Blood |volume=101 |issue=11 |pages=4285–4289 |doi=10.1182/blood-2002-08-2644 |pmid=12586628|s2cid=16108474 |doi-access=free }}

Increased age is an adverse risk factor for Hodgkin lymphoma, but in general elderly people (≥ 60 years of age) without major comorbidities are sufficiently fit to tolerate therapy with curative intent. Despite this, treatment outcome in the elderly patient is not comparable to that of younger people and the disease is a different entity in older people where different considerations enter into treatment decisions.{{cite journal |vauthors=Borchmann S, Engert A, Böll B |title=Hodgkin lymphoma in elderly patients |journal=Curr Opin Oncol |volume=30 |issue=5 |pages=308–316 |date=September 2018 |pmid=29994901 |doi=10.1097/CCO.0000000000000464 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Klimm B, Diehl V, Engert A | title = Hodgkin's lymphoma in the elderly: a different disease in patients over 60 | journal = Oncology | volume = 21 | issue = 8 | pages = 982–90; discussion 990, 996, 998 passim | date = July 2007 | pmid = 17715698 }}

Two novel targeted drugs have been developed for relapsing and refractory HL patients; brentuximab vedotin, a CD30 antibody conjugated with a cytotoxic component MMAE,{{cite journal |last1=Townsend |first1=William |last2=Linch |first2=David |date=September 2012 |title=Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults |journal=The Lancet |volume=380 |issue=9844 |pages=836–847 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60035-X|pmid=22835602 |s2cid=15815020 |doi-access=free }} and the checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and pembrolizumab.{{cite journal |last=Ansell |first=Stephen M. |date=July 2014 |title=Hodgkin lymphoma: 2014 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management: Hodgkin lymphoma |journal=American Journal of Hematology |volume=89 |issue=7 |pages=771–779 |doi=10.1002/ajh.23750|pmid=24953862 |s2cid=43857382 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Küppers |first1=Ralf |last2=Engert |first2=Andreas |last3=Hansmann |first3=Martin-Leo |date=1 October 2012 |title=Hodgkin lymphoma |journal=Journal of Clinical Investigation |volume=122 |issue=10 |pages=3439–3447 |doi=10.1172/jci61245 |pmid=23023715 |pmc=3534167 }}{{cite journal |last1=Eichenauer |first1=D.A. |last2=Engert |first2=A. |last3=André |first3=M. |last4=Federico |first4=M. |last5=Illidge |first5=T. |last6=Hutchings |first6=M. |last7=Ladetto |first7=M. |date=September 2014 |title=Hodgkin's lymphoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up |journal=Annals of Oncology |volume=25 |pages=iii70–5 |doi=10.1093/annonc/mdu181 |pmid=25185243 |hdl=2318/1612165 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Bradley |first1=Amber M. |last2=Devine |first2=Meghan |last3=DeRemer |first3=David |date=1 April 2013 |title=Brentuximab vedotin: An anti-CD30 antibody–drug conjugate |journal=American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy |volume=70 |issue=7 |pages=589–597 |doi=10.2146/ajhp110608 |pmid=23515511 }} This has been an important step in the treatment for the few, but still existing refractory patients.

For Hodgkin lymphomas, radiation oncologists typically use external beam radiation therapy (sometimes shortened to EBRT or XRT). Radiation oncologists deliver external beam radiation therapy to the lymphoma from a machine called a linear accelerator which produces high energy X-rays and electrons. People usually describe treatments as painless and similar to getting an X-ray. Treatments last less than 30 minutes each.

For lymphomas, there are a few different ways radiation oncologists target the cancer cells. Involved site radiation is when the radiation oncologists give radiation only to those parts of the person's body known to have the cancer.{{cite journal | vauthors = Specht L, Yahalom J, Illidge T, Berthelsen AK, Constine LS, Eich HT, Girinsky T, Hoppe RT, Mauch P, Mikhaeel NG, Ng A | title = Modern radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma: field and dose guidelines from the international lymphoma radiation oncology group (ILROG) | journal = International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics | volume = 89 | issue = 4 | pages = 854–62 | date = July 2014 | pmid = 23790512 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.05.005 }} Very often, this is combined with chemotherapy. Radiation therapy directed above the diaphragm to the neck, chest or underarms is called mantle field radiation. Radiation to below the diaphragm to the abdomen, spleen or pelvis is called inverted-Y field radiation. Total nodal irradiation is when the therapist gives radiation to all the lymph nodes in the body to destroy cells that may have spread.{{cite web |url=https://www.rtanswers.org/RTAnswers/media/RTAnswers/patient%20materials/PDFs/Lymphomas.pdf |title=RTanswers.com |publisher=American Society for Radiation Oncology |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=26 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909113917/https://www.rtanswers.com/treatmentinformation/cancertypes/lymphomas/externalbeam.aspx |archive-date=9 September 2012 }}

The high cure rates and long survival of many people with Hodgkin lymphoma has led to a high concern with late adverse effects of treatment, including cardiovascular disease and second malignancies such as acute leukemias, lymphomas, and solid tumors within the radiation therapy field. Most people with early-stage disease are now treated with abbreviated chemotherapy and involved site radiation therapy rather than with radiation therapy alone. Clinical research strategies are exploring reduction of the duration of chemotherapy and dose and volume of radiation therapy in an attempt to reduce late morbidity and mortality of treatment while maintaining high cure rates. Hospitals are also treating those who respond quickly to chemotherapy with no radiation.{{cite journal |last1=Moding |first1=Everett J. |last2=Kastan |first2=Michael B. |last3=Kirsch |first3=David G. |date=2013 |title=Strategies for optimizing the response of cancer and normal tissues to radiation |journal=Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=526–542 |doi=10.1038/nrd4003 |pmc=3906736 |pmid=23812271}}

In childhood cases of Hodgkin lymphoma, long-term endocrine adverse effects are a major concern, mainly gonadal dysfunction and growth retardation. Gonadal dysfunction seems to be the most severe endocrine long-term effect, especially after treatment with alkylating agents or pelvic radiotherapy.{{cite journal | vauthors = van Dorp W, van Beek RD, Laven JS, Pieters R, de Muinck Keizer-Schrama SM, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM | title = Long-term endocrine side effects of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment: a review | journal = Human Reproduction Update | volume = 18 | issue = 1 | pages = 12–28 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21896559 | doi = 10.1093/humupd/dmr038 | doi-access = free }}

It is possible that patients undergoing a chemotherapy need a platelet transfusion.{{cite journal | vauthors = Estcourt L, Stanworth S, Doree C, Hopewell S, Murphy MF, Tinmouth A, Heddle N | title = Prophylactic platelet transfusion for prevention of bleeding in patients with haematological disorders after chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 5 | pages = CD004269 | date = May 2012 | pmid = 22592695 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD004269.pub3 | collaboration = Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Estcourt LJ, Stanworth SJ, Doree C, Hopewell S, Trivella M, Murphy MF | title = Comparison of different platelet count thresholds to guide administration of prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in people with haematological disorders after myelosuppressive chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 11 | pages = CD010983 | date = November 2015 | volume = 2015 | pmid = 26576687 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD010983.pub2 | pmc = 4717525 | collaboration = Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group }} If a stem cell transplantation is necessary for the treatment of a relapse, graft-versus-host diseases might occur.{{cite journal | vauthors = Fisher SA, Cutler A, Doree C, Brunskill SJ, Stanworth SJ, Navarrete C, Girdlestone J | title = Mesenchymal stromal cells as treatment or prophylaxis for acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease in haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with a haematological condition | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | pages = CD009768 | date = January 2019 | issue = 1 | pmid = 30697701 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD009768.pub2 | pmc = 6353308 | collaboration = Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group }}

Adding physical exercises to the standard treatment for adult patients with haematological malignancies like Hodgkin lymphoma may result in little to no difference in the mortality, the quality of life and the physical functioning. These exercises may result in a slight reduction in depression. Furthermore, aerobic physical exercises probably reduce fatigue. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect on anxiety and serious adverse events.{{cite journal | vauthors = Knips L, Bergenthal N, Streckmann F, Monsef I, Elter T, Skoetz N | title = Aerobic physical exercise for adult patients with haematological malignancies | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | pages = CD009075 | date = January 2019 | issue = 1 | pmid = 30702150 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD009075.pub3 | pmc = 6354325 | collaboration = Cochrane Haematological Malignancies Group }} 

Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma has been improving. Types of chemotherapy have resulted in higher survival rates than have previously been seen. In a 2007 European trial, the five-year survival rate for those people with a favorable prognosis (FFP) was 98%, while that for people with worse outlooks was at least 85%.{{cite journal | vauthors = Fermé C, Eghbali H, Meerwaldt JH, Rieux C, Bosq J, Berger F, Girinsky T, Brice P, van't Veer MB, Walewski JA, Lederlin P, Tirelli U, Carde P, Van den Neste E, Gyan E, Monconduit M, Diviné M, Raemaekers JM, Salles G, Noordijk EM, Creemers GJ, Gabarre J, Hagenbeek A, Reman O, Blanc M, Thomas J, Vié B, Kluin-Nelemans JC, Viseu F, Baars JW, Poortmans P, Lugtenburg PJ, Carrie C, Jaubert J, Henry-Amar M | title = Chemotherapy plus involved-field radiation in early-stage Hodgkin's disease | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 357 | issue = 19 | pages = 1916–27 | date = November 2007 | pmid = 17989384 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa064601 | s2cid = 11153555 | doi-access = free | hdl = 1765/35106 | hdl-access = free }}

In 1998, an international effort{{cite journal | vauthors = Hasenclever D, Diehl V | title = A prognostic score for advanced Hodgkin's disease. International Prognostic Factors Project on Advanced Hodgkin's Disease | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 339 | issue = 21 | pages = 1506–14 | date = November 1998 | pmid = 9819449 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM199811193392104 | doi-access = free }} identified seven prognostic factors that accurately predict the success rate of conventional treatment in people with locally extensive or advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. Freedom from progression (FFP) at five years was directly related to the number of factors present in a person. The five-year FFP for people with zero factors is 84%. Each additional factor lowers the five-year FFP rate by 7%, such that the five-year FFP for a person with five or more factors is 42%.{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Qin |last2=Qin |first2=Yan |last3=Kang |first3=Su-Yi |last4=He |first4=Xiao-Hui |last5=Liu |first5=Peng |last6=Yang |first6=Sheng |last7=Zhou |first7=Sheng-Yu |last8=Zhang |first8=Chang-Gong |last9=Gui |first9=Lin |last10=Yang |first10=Jian-Liang |last11=Sun |first11=Yan |last12=Shi |first12=Yuan-Kai |date=5 December 2016 |title=Decreased Prognostic Value of International Prognostic Score in Chinese Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Treated in the Contemporary Era |journal=Chinese Medical Journal |volume=129 |issue=23 |pages=2780–5 |doi=10.4103/0366-6999.194661 |pmc=5146782 |pmid=27900988 |doi-access=free }}

The adverse prognostic factors identified in the international study are:

• Age ≥ 45 years
• Stage IV disease
• Hemoglobin < 10.5 g/dl
• Lymphocyte count < 600/μL or < 8%
• Male
• Albumin < 4.0 g/dl
• White blood count ≥ 15,000/μL

Other studies have reported the following to be the most important adverse prognostic factors: mixed-cellularity or lymphocyte-depleted histologies, male sex, large number of involved nodal sites, advanced stage, age of 40 years or more, the presence of B symptoms, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and bulky disease (widening of the mediastinum by more than one third, or the presence of a nodal mass measuring more than 10 cm in any dimension.){{cite journal |last1=Ali |first1=Sheeraz |last2=Basit |first2=Abdul |last3=Kazmi |first3=Ather S. |last4=Sidhu |first4=Armughan |last5=Badar |first5=Farhana |last6=Hameed |first6=Abdul |date=2016 |title=Chemotherapy alone or combined chemotherapy and involved field radiotherapy in favorable risk early-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma-a 10 years experience |journal=Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=1408–13 |doi=10.12669/pjms.326.11080 |pmc=5216291 |pmid=28083035}}

The use of positron emission tomography (PET) early after commencing chemotherapy has demonstrated to have powerful prognostic ability.{{cite journal | vauthors = Biggi A, Gallamini A, Chauvie S, Hutchings M, Kostakoglu L, Gregianin M, Meignan M, Malkowski B, Hofman MS, Barrington SF | title = International validation study for interim PET in ABVD-treated, advanced-stage hodgkin lymphoma: interpretation criteria and concordance rate among reviewers | journal = Journal of Nuclear Medicine | volume = 54 | issue = 5 | pages = 683–90 | date = May 2013 | pmid = 23516309 | doi = 10.2967/jnumed.112.110890 | s2cid = 9959867 | doi-access = free }} This enables assessment of an individual's response to chemotherapy as the PET activity switches off rapidly in people who are responding. In this study, after two cycles of ABVD chemotherapy, 83% of people were free of disease at 3 years if they had a negative PET versus only 28% in those with positive PET scans. This prognostic method improves on FFP estimates based on the seven conventional factors. Several trials are underway to see if PET-based risk adapted response can be used to improve a person's outcomes by changing chemotherapy early in people who are not responding.

The evidence is uncertain about the effect of negative (= good prognosis) or positive (= bad prognosis) interim PET scan results for people with a Hodgkin lymphoma on the progression-free survival. Negative interim PET scan results may result in an increase in progression-free survival compared if the adjusted result was measured. Negative interim PET scan results probably result in a large increase in the overall survival compared to those with a positive interim PET scan result,{{cite journal | vauthors = Aldin A, Umlauff L, Estcourt LJ, Collins G, Moons KG, Engert A, Kobe C, von Tresckow B, Haque M, Foroutan F, Kreuzberger N, Trivella M, Skoetz N | title = Interim PET-results for prognosis in adults with Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factor studies | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | pages = CD012643 | date = January 2020 | issue = 8 | pmid = 31930780 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD012643.pub3 | pmc = 6984446 | collaboration = Cochrane Haematology Group }}

File:Lymphomas, multiple myeloma world map - Death - WHO2004.svg death from lymphomas and multiple myeloma per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/index.html |title=WHO Disease and injury country estimates |year=2009 |work=World Health Organisation |access-date=11 November 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111101009/https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/index.html |archive-date=11 November 2009 }}{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=10em}}

{{legend|#b3b3b3|no data}}

{{legend|#ffff65|less than 1.8}}

{{legend|#fff200|1.8–3.6}}

{{legend|#ffdc00|3.6–5.4}}

{{legend|#ffc600|5.4–7.2}}

{{legend|#ffb000|7.2–9}}

{{legend|#ff9a00|9–10.8}}

{{legend|#ff8400|10.8–12.6}}

{{legend|#ff6e00|12.6–14.4}}

{{legend|#ff5800|14.4–16.2}}

{{legend|#ff4200|16.2–18}}

{{legend|#ff2c00|18–19.8}}

{{legend|#cb0000|more than 19.8}}

{{div col end}}]]

Unlike some other lymphomas, whose number of new cases per year increases with age, Hodgkin lymphoma has a bimodal distribution curve for the number of cases; that is, it occurs most frequently in two separate age groups, the first being young adulthood (age 15–35) and the second being in those over 55 years of age although these peaks may vary slightly with nationality.{{cite book | last1=Mauch | first1=Peter | first2 = James | last2 = Armitage | first3 = Volker | last3 = Diehl | first4 = Richard | last4 = Hoppe | first5 = Laurence | last5 = Weiss | title=Hodgkin's Disease | publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | year=1999 | pages=62–64 | isbn=978-0-7817-1502-7}} Overall, it is more common in males, except for the nodular sclerosis variant, which is slightly more common in females.{{medcn|date=May 2025}} The annual number of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma is 2.7 per 100,000 per persons per year, and the disease accounts for slightly less than 1% of all cancers worldwide.

In 2010, globally it resulted in about 18,000 deaths down from 19,000 in 1990.{{cite journal | vauthors = Lozano R, Naghavi M, Foreman K, Lim S, Shibuya K, Aboyans V, etal | title = Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 | journal = Lancet | volume = 380 | issue = 9859 | pages = 2095–128 | date = December 2012 | pmid = 23245604 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61728-0 | pmc = 10790329 | oclc = 23245604 | hdl = 10536/DRO/DU:30050819 | s2cid = 1541253 | url = https://zenodo.org/record/2557786 | hdl-access = free | archive-date = 19 May 2020 | access-date = 4 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200519152712/https://zenodo.org/record/2557786 | url-status = live }} In 2012, there were an estimated 65,950 cases and 25,469 deaths from Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide, with 28,852 and 37,098 cases occurring in developed and developing countries, respectively.{{cite journal | vauthors = Salati M, Cesaretti M, Macchia M, Mistiri ME, Federico M | title = Epidemiological Overview of Hodgkin Lymphoma across the Mediterranean Basin | journal = Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = e2014048 | date = 29 June 2014 | pmid = 25045456 | pmc = 4103499 | doi = 10.4084/mjhid.2014.048 }} However, the age-standardized rates were higher in developed regions, with the greatest rates in the Americas (1.5 per 100,000), East Mediterranean Region (1.5 per 100,000), and Europe (2.0 per 100,000). The East Mediterranean Region also has the highest age-standardized mortality rate of 1.0 per 100,000, which is mainly attributed to lifestyle and environmental risk factors associated with transitional economies such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and reproductive behaviors, as well as availability of diagnostic practices and awareness of the disease.

The number of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma is increased in people with infected with HIV.{{cite journal | vauthors = Biggar RJ, Jaffe ES, Goedert JJ, Chaturvedi A, Pfeiffer R, Engels EA | title = Hodgkin lymphoma and immunodeficiency in persons with HIV/AIDS | journal = Blood | volume = 108 | issue = 12 | pages = 3786–91 | date = December 2006 | pmid = 16917006 | pmc = 1895473 | doi = 10.1182/blood-2006-05-024109 }}

Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for less than 1% of all cancer cases and deaths in the United Kingdom. Around 1,800 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2011, and around 330 people died in 2012.{{cite web|title=Hodgkin lymphoma statistics|url=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/hodgkinslymphoma/|website=Cancer Research UK|access-date=27 October 2014|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017044512/http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/hodgkinslymphoma/|archive-date=17 October 2014}}{{cite web | title=Hodgkin lymphoma statistics | website=Cancer Research UK | date=14 May 2015 | url=https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/hodgkin-lymphoma | access-date=3 May 2025 | archive-date=12 May 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512075742/http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/hodgkinslymphoma/ | url-status=live }}

In 2016, there were 8,389 new cases and 1,000 mortalities attributed to Hodgkin lymphoma, a decrease from the 8,625 new cases and 1,120 mortalities in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lymphoma/index.htm|title=Lymphoma|date=16 January 2019|website=U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)|access-date=25 November 2019|archive-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111201445/https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lymphoma/index.htm|url-status=dead}} As of January 2016, the five-year limited duration prevalence of Hodgkin lymphoma was 37,513 representing 0.71% of all diagnosed cancers in the United States.

File:Hodgkin's Disease (Essentials of Medicine).jpg

Hodgkin lymphoma was first described in an 1832 report by Thomas Hodgkin, although Hodgkin noted that perhaps an earlier reference to the condition was provided by Marcello Malpighi in 1666. While occupied as museum curator at Guy's Hospital, London, Hodgkin studied seven people with painless lymph node enlargement. Of the seven cases, two were under the care of Richard Bright, one was of Thomas Addison, and one was of Robert Carswell.{{cite book |author=Hellman S |veditors=Hoppe RT, Mauch PT, Armitage JO, Diehl V, Weiss LM |title=Hodgkin Lymphoma |chapter=Brief Consideration of Thomas Hodgkin and His Times |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Philadelphia |year=2007 |edition=2nd |pages=3–6 |isbn=978-0-7817-6422-3 }} Carswell's report of the seventh case was accompanied by numerous illustrations that aided early descriptions of the disease.{{cite journal | vauthors = Dawson PJ | title = The original illustrations of Hodgkin's disease | journal = Annals of Diagnostic Pathology | volume = 3 | issue = 6 | pages = 386–93 | date = December 1999 | pmid = 10594291 | doi = 10.1016/S1092-9134(99)80018-5 }}

Hodgkin's report on the seven cases, entitled "On some morbid appearances of the absorbent glands and spleen", was presented to the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London in January 1832 and was subsequently published in the society's journal, Medical-Chirurgical Society Transactions. Hodgkin's paper went largely unnoticed, however, even though Bright highlighted it in an 1838 publication. Indeed, Hodgkin himself did not view his contribution as particularly significant.{{cite journal | vauthors = Geller SA | title = Comments on the anniversary of the description of Hodgkin's disease | journal = Journal of the National Medical Association | volume = 76 | issue = 8 | pages = 815–7 | date = August 1984 | pmid = 6381744 | pmc = 2609834 }}

In 1856, Samuel Wilks independently reported on a series of patients with the same disease that Hodgkin had previously described. Wilks, a successor to Hodgkin at Guy's Hospital, was unaware of Hodgkin's prior work on the subject. Bright informed Wilks of Hodgkin's contribution and in 1865, Wilks published a second paper, entitled "Cases of enlargement of the lymphatic glands and spleen", in which he named the illness "Hodgkin's disease" in honor of his predecessor.

Theodor Langhans and WS Greenfield first described the microscopic characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma in 1872 and 1878, respectively. In 1898 and 1902, respectively, Carl Sternberg and Dorothy Reed independently described the cytogenetic features of the malignant cells of Hodgkin lymphoma, now called Reed–Sternberg cells.

Tissue specimens from Hodgkin's seven cases were preserved at Guy's Hospital. Nearly 100 years after Hodgkin's initial publication, histopathologic reexamination confirmed Hodgkin lymphoma in only three of seven of these people. The remaining cases included non-Hodgkin lymphoma, tuberculosis, and syphilis.

• Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1982. He later died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in October 2018.{{cite news|title=Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/16/paul.allen.cancer/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160729/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/16/paul.allen.cancer/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news | last=Lerman | first=Rachel | title=Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks owner, dies at 65 | website=The Seattle Times | date=15 October 2018 | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/microsoft-co-founder-paul-allen-dies-at-65/ | access-date=26 April 2025 | archive-date=17 April 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417213356/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/microsoft-co-founder-paul-allen-dies-at-65/ | url-status=live }}
• Eric Berry, All-Pro strong safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League, diagnosed in 2014.{{cite web|title=Eric Berry has Hodgkin's lymphoma|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12000374/eric-berry-kansas-city-chiefs-diagnosed-hodgkin-lymphoma|publisher=ESPN |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308122206/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12000374/eric-berry-kansas-city-chiefs-diagnosed-hodgkin-lymphoma|archive-date=8 March 2015|date=8 December 2014}}
• David Brooks, Welsh professional footballer, diagnosed in 2021, while playing for AFC Bournemouth.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12433083/bournemouth-midfielder-david-brooks-diagnosed-with-cancer/ |title=Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks diagnosed with cancer |publisher=Sky Sports |date=13 October 2021 |access-date=13 October 2021}}
• Dale Carnegie, public speaker and author of How to Win Friends and Influence People.{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/dale-carnegie |title=Dale Carnagie at Biography.com |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202092512/https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/dale-carnegie |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://strategiesforinfluence.com/dale-carnegie-how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people|title=Dale Carnagie page: strategies for influence|date=6 February 2024|access-date=8 February 2024|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603134830/https://strategiesforinfluence.com/dale-carnegie-how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkpuEAAAQBAJ&dq=dale+carnegie+hodgkin%27s+lymphoma&pg=PT72 |title=Book: Words that Shaped our World, ref to Dale Carnagie+death |date=6 February 2024|isbn=978-1-64095-416-8 |access-date=8 February 2024 |publisher=Sound Wisdom | vauthors = Stovall J, Johnson K }}
• Howard Carter, Egyptologist and discoverer of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, died in 1939 from Hodgkin's disease.{{cite book |title=Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun |publisher=Tauris Parke Paperbacks | vauthors = James TG |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AyK0_weGa20C&pg=PA454 |isbn=978-1-84511-258-5 |orig-date=2001 |pages=454–5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910182834/https://books.google.com/books?id=AyK0_weGa20C&pg=PA454 |archive-date=10 September 2017 }}{{cite ODNB | last = James | first = TGH | year = 2004 | doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/32312 | chapter = Carter, Howard (1874–1939) | chapter-url = http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32312 }}
• Starchild Abraham Cherrix, a teenager whose refusal to undergo further conventional treatment after relapsing in 2006 resulted in a court battle and a change to Virginia laws about medical neglect.{{cite news| title = Teen, court reach agreement over cancer care| url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14371567| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303081202/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14371567| archive-date = 3 March 2014| agency = Associated Press| publisher = NBC News| date = 5 September 2006| access-date = 18 June 2009}}
• James Conner, running back and 2014 ACC Player of the Year for the Arizona Cardinals.{{cite web|title=James Conner Announces Cancer Diagnosis|url=http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120415aaa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912041835/http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120415aaa.html|archive-date=12 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016}}
• Michael Cuccione, Canadian child actor, was diagnosed in 1994 at age 9. Treatments that rendered him cancer-free, including chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and radiation, left him with permanent lung and respiratory problems and he died in 2001 just after turning 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.childhoodcancerresearch.org/site/michael_story.php|title=Childhood Cancer Research Program—Michael Cuccione Foundation|publisher=www.childhoodcancerresearch.org|access-date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818231543/http://www.childhoodcancerresearch.org/site/michael_story.php|archive-date=18 August 2016}}Michael Cuccione{{Circular reference|date=February 2021}}
• Victoria Duval, American tennis player, was diagnosed in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/11175930/victoria-duval-diagnosed-hodgkin-lymphoma |title=Victoria Duval battling cancer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112113917/http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/11175930/victoria-duval-diagnosed-hodgkin-lymphoma |archive-date=12 January 2016 |date=4 July 2014 }}
• Gerald Finzi, British composer, was diagnosed in 1951 and died in 1956.{{cite web|url=http://www.geraldfinzi.com/biography/|title=Gerald Finzi biography|access-date=27 November 2017|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110023001/http://www.geraldfinzi.com/biography/|url-status=live}}
• Mist Edvardsdóttir, Icelandic football player and member of the Icelandic women's national team. Diagnosed in June 2014 at the age of 23. Continued to play until becoming too ill due to chemotherapy. Made recovery in early 2015.{{cite news |author1=Ásta Sigrún Magnúsdóttir |title=Vá, hvað get ég gert meira? |url=https://timarit.is/page/6798599 |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=Dagblaðið Vísir |date=16 October 2015 |pages=30–31 |language=Icelandic |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423225327/https://timarit.is/page/6798599 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author1=Gunnar Birgisson |title=Ótrúleg endurkoma eftir röð áfalla |url=https://www.ruv.is/frett/2020/10/11/otruleg-endurkoma-eftir-rod-afalla |access-date=23 April 2021 |work=RÚV |date=11 October 2020 |language=Icelandic}}
• Delta Goodrem, Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. She was diagnosed in July 2003 at the age of 18.{{cite magazine|title=Delta Goodrem Hospitalized With Cancer|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/69996/delta-goodrem-hospitalized-with-cancer|date=14 July 2003|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819224618/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/69996/delta-goodrem-hospitalized-with-cancer|url-status=live}}
• Hank Green, one of the cofounders of the Vlogbrothers, VidCon and production company Complexly, announced that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in a video he released on 19 May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6a4hMyiwBo|title=So, I've got cancer|author=vlogbrothers|date=19 May 2023|access-date=19 May 2023|website=YouTube}} Green would announce his entrance into remission on 25 August 2023.{{Citation |last=vlogbrothers |title=Remission |date=25 August 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0fYYeuNfY |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825225606/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0fYYeuNfY |url-status=live }}
• Jiří Grossmann, Czechoslovak theatre actor, poet, and composerSkálová, Johana. Nevyjasněná úmrtí V. 1st Ed. Praha: The World Circle Foundation, 2000. {{ISBN|80-902731-7-3}}.
• Michael C. Hall (born 1 February 1971), American actor, best known for his lead role as Dexter Morgan, in Showtime's crime series Dexter. In 2010, aged 38, Hall announced he was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma; within two years, the disease was in full remission.{{cite web |last=Huver |first=Scott |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20404733,00.html |title=Cancer-Free Michael C. Hall Back to Work on Dexter—Health, Dexter, Michael C. Hall |work=People |date=23 July 2010 |access-date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208003948/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20404733,00.html |archive-date=8 February 2015 }}
• Richard Harris, Irish actor who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies, died on 25 October 2002, after being diagnosed earlier that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20138440,00.html |title=Lionhearted—Death, Richard Harris |work=People |access-date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204043234/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20138440,00.html |archive-date=4 February 2015 }}
• Daniel Hauser, whose mother fled with him in 2009 in order to prevent him from undergoing chemotherapy.{{cite news| title = Minnesota: Evaluation Ordered for a 13-Year-Old With Cancer| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/us/16brfs-EVALUATIONOR_BRF.html| agency = Associated Press| work = The New York Times| date = 16 May 2009| access-date = 18 June 2009| url-status=live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150531082440/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/us/16brfs-EVALUATIONOR_BRF.html| archive-date = 31 May 2015}}
• Tessa James, Australian actress, was diagnosed in 2014.{{cite web|title = Tessa James reveals she is in remission|url = https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/30291334/tessa-james-reveals-she-is-in-remission/ |publisher = Yahoo! News Australia |access-date = 16 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222124801/https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/30291334/tessa-james-reveals-she-is-in-remission/|archive-date = 22 December 2015}}
• Sean Kent, American stand up comedian and actor. Was diagnosed in 2002 while writing on The Best Damn Sports Show Period.{{cite news |title=Comedian Sean Kent laughs off hecklers, cancer to stay on road |url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/food/2009/03/19/comedian-sean-kent-laughs-off/21539939007/ |access-date=19 May 2023 |work=Columbia Daily Tribune |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519192236/https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/lifestyle/food/2009/03/19/comedian-sean-kent-laughs-off/21539939007/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=Rick |title=Funnyman Sean Kent winning fight vs. cancer |url=https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/funnyman-sean-kent-winning-fight-vs-cancer/ |access-date=19 May 2023 |work=www.tahoedailytribune.com |date=28 November 2007 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519192237/https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/funnyman-sean-kent-winning-fight-vs-cancer/ |url-status=live }} After three months of chemotherapy and one month of radiation, the cancer went into remission.
• Mario Lemieux, Hall of Fame NHL player, co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins and founder of the Mario Lemieux Foundation, diagnosed in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.mariolemieux.org|title=Mario Lemieux Foundation|access-date=11 April 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403064957/http://www.mariolemieux.org/|archive-date=3 April 2013}}
• Dinu Lipatti (1917–1950), Romanian classical pianist and composer. Diagnosed in 1947, received cortisone treatment in 1949; died from a burst abscess on his one lung.{{cite web|url=http://www.markainley.com/music/classical/lipatti/prince_of_pianists.html |title=Dinu Lipatti: Prince of Pianists |date=2002 |author=Mark Ainley |publisher=markainley.com |access-date=30 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022165810/http://www.markainley.com/music/classical/lipatti/prince_of_pianists.html |archive-date=22 October 2015 }}
• Jack Lisowski, English snooker player, diagnosed in 2008 at the age of 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/10006703/Betfair-World-Snooker-Championship-2013-Jack-Lisowskis-cancer-fight-gives-him-a-new-angle-on-life.html/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430210520/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/snooker/10006703/Betfair-World-Snooker-Championship-2013-Jack-Lisowskis-cancer-fight-gives-him-a-new-angle-on-life.html|archive-date=30 April 2013|title=Cancer fight gives Lisowski new angle on life|work=Daily Telegraph}}
• Mamta Mohandas, Indian film actress and producer, diagnosed in 2010.Mamta Mohandas{{Circular reference|date=February 2021}}
• Nanni Moretti, Italian actor and director.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/27/movies/film-an-italian-satirist-takes-a-very-serious-turn.html |title=FILM; An Italian Satirist Takes a Very Serious Turn |date=2002 |author=Laura Winters |work=The New York Times |access-date=6 September 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008151838/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/27/movies/film-an-italian-satirist-takes-a-very-serious-turn.html |url-status=live }}
• Laura Packard, health care activist diagnosed in 2017, spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-laura-packard/|title=Denver health care activist speaking at Democratic convention|date=18 August 2020|publisher=Denver Post|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114052332/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-laura-packard/|url-status=live}}
• Nikola Pokrivač, Croatian soccer midfielder, diagnosed in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/nikola-pokrivac-hodgkinov-limfom-kemoterapija-nogometas-maticne-stanice-1175154|title=Nikola Pokrivač: Nema predaje, sve ću podnijeti za ženu i kćer|language=hr|date=8 June 2017|access-date=21 January 2025|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105172714/https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/nikola-pokrivac-hodgkinov-limfom-kemoterapija-nogometas-maticne-stanice-1175154|url-status=live}}
• Anthony Rizzo, MLB All-Star first baseman for the New York Yankees, diagnosed in May 2008 while signed as a minor league player for the Boston Red Sox.{{cite web |title=Emma: Anthony Rizzo's Indelible Impact |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/05/08/emma-anthony-rizzos-indelible-impact/ |publisher=CBS Chicago |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=30 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914165231/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/05/08/emma-anthony-rizzos-indelible-impact/ |archive-date=14 September 2015 }}
• Dave Roberts, MLB outfielder and manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Diagnosed in March 2010 while he was a coach for the San Diego Padres.{{cite web|date=3 May 2010|title='04 Red Sox hero Roberts treated for lymphoma|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5159307|access-date=28 October 2020|website=ESPN.com|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329221306/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5159307|url-status=live}}
• Chip Roy, Texas congressman.{{cite news |last=Chasnoff |first=Brian |url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Chip-Roy-s-plan-to-get-Washington-out-of-the-12911492.php |title=Chip Roy's plan to get Washington out of the way includes going there himself |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |publisher=ExpressNews.com |date=13 May 2018 |access-date=18 September 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103231627/https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Chip-Roy-s-plan-to-get-Washington-out-of-the-12911492.php |url-status=live }}
• Flip Saunders, head coach of the NBA team Minnesota Timberwolves, announced in August 2015 that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. He died of the disease in October 2015.|{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/minnesota-timberwolves-head-coach-flip-saunders-died-34719976 |title=Minnesota Timberwolves Say Head Coach Flip Saunders Has Died |publisher=abc.go.com |access-date=25 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026170126/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/minnesota-timberwolves-head-coach-flip-saunders-died-34719976 |archive-date=26 October 2015 }}
• Arlen Specter, United States Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011), diagnosed in 2005. He later died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/16/specter.cancer/ |title=Specter diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease |publisher=CNN |date=16 February 2005 |access-date=31 August 2021}}
• Brandon Tartikoff, American television executive, diagnosed around 1974, died in 1997.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/28/arts/brandon-tartikoff-former-nbc-executive-who-transformed-tv-in-the-80-s-dies-at-48.html| title=Brandon Tartikoff, Former NBC Executive Who Transformed TV in the 80's, Dies at 48| newspaper=The New York Times| date=28 August 1997| last1=Carter| first1=Bill| archive-date=7 September 2020| access-date=30 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907195850/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/28/arts/brandon-tartikoff-former-nbc-executive-who-transformed-tv-in-the-80-s-dies-at-48.html| url-status=live}}
• Bernardo Tengarrinha, Portuguese professional footballer, diagnosed in 2017 Tengarrinha died on 30 October 2021, at the age of 32. Hours later, his former teams FC Porto and Boavista FC paid tribute to him before the local derby. playing for FC Porto.{{cite web |url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2021-10-30/liga-arrepiante-homenagem-a-tengarrinha-no-dragao-video/911205 |title=Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Tengarrinha diagnosed with linfoma de Hodgkin |work=Abola |date=30 October 2021 |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030222251/https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2021-10-30/liga-arrepiante-homenagem-a-tengarrinha-no-dragao-video/911205 |url-status=live }}
• Ethan Zohn, American professional soccer player and a winner of the Survivor reality television series. Zohn was diagnosed twice (in 2009 and 2011).{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-18/health/sc-health-0611-zohn-lymphoma-20140617-18_1_grassroot-soccer-life-threatening-diagnosis-hodgkin-lymphoma|title=Ethan Zohn is a survivor in more ways than one|work=Chicago Tribune|date=18 June 2014 |access-date=26 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317172336/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-18/health/sc-health-0611-zohn-lymphoma-20140617-18_1_grassroot-soccer-life-threatening-diagnosis-hodgkin-lymphoma|archive-date=17 March 2016}}
• Richard Holliday, American professional wrestler, reported to be ill with diagnosis from June 2022, completed treatment 17 February 2023{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Andrew |title=Richard Holliday completes cancer treatment |url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/02/18/richard-holliday-completes-cancer-treatment/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Post Wrestling |date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523224804/https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/02/18/richard-holliday-completes-cancer-treatment/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |first=Charlotte DeCroes |last=Jacobs |title=Henry Kaplan and the Story of Hodgkin's Disease |publisher=Stanford University Press |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-8047-7448-2 |oclc=648759629 |postscript=;}} combines a biography of the American radiation oncologist (1918–84) with a history of the lymphatic cancer whose treatment he helped to transform.

{{Commons category|Hodgkin's lymphoma}}

• [https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma.html Hodgkin Lymphoma] at American Cancer Society
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070307115346/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/hodgkinslymphoma Hodgkin Lymphoma] at the American National Cancer Institute

{{Medical condition classification and resources

| ICD11 = {{ICD11|2B30}}

| ICD10 = {{ICD10|C81}}

| ICD9 = {{ICD9|201}}

| ICDO = 9650/3-9667/3

| OMIM =

| MedlinePlus = 000580

| eMedicineSubj = med

| eMedicineTopic = 1022

| DiseasesDB = 5973

| MeshID = D006689

}}

{{Hematological malignancy histology}}

{{Portal bar | Medicine}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodgkin Lymphoma}}

Category:Infectious causes of cancer

Category:Rare cancers

Category:Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate

Category:Diseases named after discoverers