This document discusses Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), including its characteristics, risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and long-term effects. HL is characterized by progressive lymph node enlargement. The Reed-Sternberg cell is the hallmark of HL. Presentation includes painless lymphadenopathy, mediastinal involvement, and B symptoms like fever. Diagnosis involves lymph node biopsy showing Reed-Sternberg cells. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy plus low-dose radiation, with multi-agent chemotherapy regimens being standard. Prognosis is generally good even for advanced disease, though risks remain for secondary cancers and organ toxicity long-term.

1. Dr. (Major) Jahangir Alam
MBBS, DCH, FCPS
Classified child specialist
CMH Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2.  Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by
progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes.
 It is considered unicentric in origin and has a
predictable pattern of spread by extension to
contiguous nodes.

3.  Etiology is unknown.
 worldwide incidence of HL is approximately
2-4 new cases/100,000 population/yr
 HL accounts for approximately 5% of cancers
in persons 14 yr of age or younger;
 it accounts for approximately 15% of cancers
in adolescents (15-19 yr of age)
Ref: Nelson textbook of Pediatrics 20th ed.
paediatric hematology- philip Lanzkowsky 5th ed

4.  EBV (mixed cellularity subtype)
 Family history of HL
 Low socioeconomic status

5.  Reed-sternberg (RS) cell is the hallmark of
Hodgkin lymphoma.
 It is a large cell (15-45 µm) with multiple or
multilobulated nuclei.
 It is neoplastic clone cell originating from B
lymphocyte in lymphnode germinal centers.
 It can’t synthesize immunoglobulin due to
dysregulation of nuclear of nuclear factor
kappa B (NFĸB).

8.  Lymphadenopathy ( 90% cases)
◦ Usually painless
◦ Cervical LN/ supraclavicular LN are involved in 60-
80%
◦ Discrete, elastic/rubbery, nontender
◦ Spreads mostly by contiguity from one chain to
another

9.  Mediastinal adenopathy (60%):
◦ 20% of patient have bulky mediastinal disease.
◦ Persistent nonproductive cough
◦ Superior vena caval symptoms
 Enlargement of neck vessels
 Hoarseness of voice
 Dyspnoea
 Dysphagia

10.  Splenomegaly
 Systemic symptoms:
◦ Pel-Ebstein fever
◦ Weight loss >10% in 6 months
◦ Drenching night sweats
◦ Mild itching may be present in 15-25% of cases but
it is not considered as B symptoms
B symptoms

11.  Other less common manifestations are
◦ Pulmonary manifestation (17%)
◦ Neurological manifestation (late presentation)
◦ Bone disease(2%)
◦ Bone marrow infiltration(5%)
◦ Liver disease (2%)
◦ Renal manifestation

12.  Haematological manifestation:
◦ Anemia
◦ Neutropenia(50%)
◦ Lymphocytopenia-Due to hypersplenism or BM
infiltration
◦ Eosinophilia (50%) – due to IL-5 production
◦ In advance stage DAT test frequently positive with
hemolysis
◦ Immune thrombocytopenia may be present in 1-2%
cases

13. Note:
Can be further subclassified as
A catagories- Asypmtomatic
B catagories- presence of B symptoms

14. 1) CBC: Normocytic normochromic anemia
Neutrophilia in 50% cases
Eosinophilia in 50% cases
Lymphocytopenia
ESR: raiesd
2) S. ferritin: raised
3) CXR: both PA & Lateral view
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy
4) Lymphnode biopsy:
Presence of RS cell with diffuse infiltration of
lymphocyte,histiocyte and many eosinophil &
plasma cell

15. CXR showing
mediastinal mass

16. For staging:
1) CT scan of neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis
2) Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
3) Technitium-99 bone scintography
For classification:
1) Immunohistochemistry

17. 1) Liver function test
2) Renal function test
3) S. electrolyte
4) S. uric acid
5) S. inorganic PO4
6) S. calcium
7) DAT

18.  In general
◦ Combined Chemotherapy
◦ Low dose involved field radiation
 Intensity of chemotherapy & volume of
radiation depends on
◦ Presence of B symptoms
◦ Initial disease staging
◦ Presence of bulky disease
Considered
Standard
therapy

20. Chemotherapy regimen Corresponding agents
ADVD Doxorubicin (Adriamycin),
bleomycin,
vinblastine, dacarbazine
ABVD-Rituxan Doxorubicin (Adriamycin),
bleomycin,
vinblastine, dacarbazine, rituximab
COPP Cyclophosphamide, vincristine
(Oncovin),
prednisone, procarbazine
OPPA ± COPP
(females
Vincristine (Oncovin), prednisone,
procarbazine, doxorubicin
(Adriamycin),
OEPA ± COPP
(males)
Vincristine (Oncovin), etoposide,
prednisone,
doxorubicin (Adriamycin),
BEACOPP
(advanced stage)
Bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin
(Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide,
vincristine
(Oncovin), prednisone,
procarbazine

21.  Most relapse occurs in 1st 3year after
diagnosis, but relapse after 10 year have
been reported.
 Treatment of relapse
Nature of relapse treatment
Relapse with
favorable at diagnosis
Chemotherapy + LD-IFRT
Relapse with high risk
disease
Chemotherapy +
Autologous HSCT
Relapse with in 12
month of diagnosis
Chemotherapy +
Autologous HSCT
+ radiotherapy

22.  With the use of current therapeutic regimens,
 With dose intense chemotherapy OS has
approached to 100%
Disease stage event-free
survival
(EFS)
Overall
survival (OS)
Early-stage disease +
favorable prognostic
factors
85-90% >95%
Advanced-stage
disease
80-85% 90%

23. Advanced stage of disease (Stage IIB, IIIB, or IV)
The presence of B symptoms
The presence of bulky disease
Extranodal extension (liver)
Male sex
Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
White blood cell count 11,500/mm3 or higher
Hemoglobin less than 11.0 g/dl
Histology : classical HL
Initially not respond to chemotherapy

24.  Secondary malignancy
 Cardiac toxicity
 Pulmonary dysfunction
 Thyroid dysfunction
 Gonadal dysfunction & infertility
 Growth retardation
 Psychosocial problem

25.  During therapy
◦ Physical exam (LN, Liver, spleen)
◦ Lab: CBC, ESR, LFT
◦ Imaging : CT scan, PET
◦ Organ toxicity monitoring: cardiac function test,
Pulmonary function test
 Disease monitoring after treatment: by CXR,
CT scan
 Long term sequelae monitoring: life long