Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Hodgkin's lymphoma — formerly known as Hodgkin's disease — is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system.

In Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. As Hodgkin's lymphoma progresses, it compromises your body's ability to fight infection.

Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system. The other type, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is far more common.

Advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped to make this once uniformly fatal disease highly treatable, with the potential for full recovery. The prognosis continues to improve for people with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

References
  1. What you need to know about Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/hodgkin/allpages. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  2. Overview: Hodgkin disease. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=84. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  3. Gottschalk SM, et al. Overview of Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  4. Mauch PM. Clinical presentation and patterns of disease distribution on Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  5. Horwitz S, et al. Treatment of advanced stage (stage III-IV) Hodgkin lymphoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 4, 2009.
  6. Bartlett, NL. Modern treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma. Current Opinion in Hematology. 2008;15:408.
  7. General information about adult Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adulthodgkins/Patient. Accessed June 7, 2009.
  8. Ng AK, et al. Late effects of Hodgkin's disease and its treatment. The Cancer Journal. 2009;15:164.
  9. Complementary and alternative therapies. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/ETO_5.asp?sitearea=ETO. Accessed June 7, 2009.
  10. Stages of adult Hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adulthodgkins/Patient/page2. Accessed June 7, 2009.
  11. Ansell SM (expert opinion.) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 12, 2009. 

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July 11, 2009

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