Hodgkin's lymphoma (lymphogranulomatosis, Hodgkin's disease, malignant granuloma, Hodgkin's disease, Hodgkin's lymphoma) - Cancer is a disease of the lymphatic tissue, characterized by enlarged lymph nodes and / or the defeat of various internal organs, in which there is uncontrolled accumulation of "tumor" of lymphocytes.

 

Prevalence and Statistics

Hodgkin's disease occurs only in humans and more often affects white men. Lymphogranulomatosis can occur at any age. However, there are two peaks of incidence - in the age of 20-29 years and aged 55 years. Both men and women, except for children under 10 years (more often sick boys) suffering from lymphogranulomatosis equally often, but men are still slightly higher, with a ratio of 1,4:1.

The appearance of Hodgkin's lymphoma is about 1% of the rate for all malignant neoplasms in the world and approximately 30% of all malignant lymphomas.

 

Manifestations of Hodgkin's disease

The disease usually begins with enlarged lymph nodes against a background of full health. In 70-75% of cases, this cervical or supraclavicular lymph nodes in 15-20% of axillary lymph nodes and mediastinum, and 10% are inguinal lymph nodes, abdominal lymph nodes, and so painless enlarged lymph nodes, elastic.

The first symptoms may be shortness of breath or coughing due to the pressure on the lungs and bronchi are enlarged lymph nodes, but most of mediastinal lesion is detected on a random plain film tomography, or chest.
Enlarged lymph nodes may spontaneously decrease and increase again, which may lead to difficulties in diagnosis.

Common symptoms in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Temperature
• heavy night sweats
• loss of weight and appetite
• For some patients, there is a generalized itchy skin
• pain in the affected lymph nodes (typical after taking alcoholic drinks)

The defeat of the organs and systems lymphoma

• Increased mediastinal lymph nodes - is observed in 45% of stage I-II Hodgkin's disease. In most cases, no effect on the clinic and prognosis, but can cause compression of adjacent organs.
• Spleen - is affected in 35% of cases and usually at later stages of the disease.
• Liver-5% in the initial stages and 65% in the terminal.
• Lightweight - lung damage observed in 10-15% of cases, which in some cases accompanied by a swampy pleurisy.
• Bone marrow - are rarely the primary and 25-45% in stage IV.
• Kidneys - an extremely rare observation may be observed in intra-lymph node lesions.
• Nervous system - the main mechanism of destruction of the nervous system is the compression of the spinal nerve roots in the thoracic or lumbar compacted conglomerations of enlarged lymph nodes with the advent of back pain, lower back.