II. Epidemiology
- Second most common solid Hematologic Malignancy
- Most common is Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Accounts for one seventh of all Lymphomas
- Incidence: 2.8 cases per 100,000, or in 2008, was 8200 new cases per year in United States
- Age at diagnosis
- Bimodal peaks: Age 20 to 34 years old and over age 60 years
- Rare under age 5 years
III. Risk Factors
- See Lymphoma (for risk factors common to all Lymphomas)
- Epstein-Barr Virus Related Infectious Mononucleosis history (1 case per 1000 persons)
-
Family History of Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Any first degree relative: 3.1 fold increased risk
- Same-sex sibling confers 10 fold risk
- Higher risk in monozygotic twins
-
Immunocompromised conditions
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (10 fold increased risk)
IV. Symptoms
- Painless Lymph Node enlargement
- Lymph Node pain provoked by Alcohol is reported, but uncommon
- Dermatologic symptoms
- Miscellaneous symptoms
- B Symptoms
- Periodic low grade fever and Night Sweats
- Cachexia
V. Signs
-
Lymphadenopathy
- Firm to Rubbery, discrete, nontender nodes
- Nonsuppurative
- Hepatomegaly
- Splenomegaly
VI. Staging: Ann Arbor classification
- See Lymphoma for Lugano Classification which expands on Ann Arbor to include PET/CT data
- Stage I
- I: Single Lymph Node region (I) or
- IE: One extranodal site
- Stage II
- II: Two or more Lymph Nodes on same side of diaphragm or
- IIE: Local extralymphatic extension and one or more Lymph Nodes on same side diaphragm
- Stage III
- III: Lymph Nodes involve both sides diaphragm or
- IIIE: Lymph Nodes on both sides of diaphragm and localized Spleen or extralymphatic involved
- Stage IV
- Diffuse or disseminated disease
- Liver or Bone Marrow involvement
- Modifier
- A: Asymptomatic
- B: Fever (>100 F), Night sweat, or weight loss (>10% in 6 months)
VII. Labs: Secondary (for staging)
-
Complete Blood Count
- Normocytic normochromic Anemia
- Leukocytosis with lymphopenia
- Bone Marrow Aspiration and biopsy
- Liver Function Tests
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
VIII. Imaging (for staging)
-
Chest XRay
- Anterior mediastinal or hilar Lymphadenopathy
- Osteosclerotic or osteoporotic lesions
- Ultrasound Liver and Spleen
- CT scan of Abdomen
- Bipedal lower extremity lymphangiography
IX. Diagnosis: Lymph Node excisional or needle biopsy
- See Reed-Sternberg Cells
- Avoid biopsy of inguinal or axillary nodes due to super-imposed inflammation
X. Classification: Pathology (Histologic Types)
- Nodular Sclerosis (60-80% of classical Hodgkin Disease cases)
- More common in young adults and teens
- Overall good prognosis since it tends to present as localized disease (early stage)
- Mixed cellularity (15-30% of classical Hodgkin Disease cases)
- More frequent in third world countries and associated with HIV Infection
- Bimodal distribution: More common in children and in the elderly
- Worse prognosis due to its presentation at later stages
-
Lymphocytic predominance (2-7% of classical Hodgkin Disease cases)
- Abundance of Reed-Sternberg Cells
- Overall good prognosis since it tends to present as localized disease (early stage)
-
Lymphocyte depletion (1-6% of classical Hodgkin Disease cases)
- Paucity of cellular elements
- More common in the elderly
- Worse prognosis as presents at later stage
- Associated with retroperitoneal nodes and extranodal involvement, as well as symptoms
- Nodular Lymphocyte-predominant (3-8% of all Hodgkin Disease cases)
- Non-Classical Hodgkin's that lacks Reed-Sternberg Cells
- Characterized by atypical lymphocytic and histiocytic cells
- Overall good prognosis with localized disease with indolent course
XI. Management: Chemotherapy Regimens
- Protocol
- Given in 2 to 8 cycles as determined by staging listed below
- ABVD Regimen (standard regimen)
- Stanford V (experimental)
- BEACOPP regimen (experimental)
- MOPP regimen (no longer used, listed for historical purposes)
- Monoclonal Antibodies (experimental)
- Anti-CD30 antibodies (SGN-30, MDX-060)
- Anti-CD20 antibodies (Rituximab)
XII. Management: Approach
- Stage IA and Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant (non-classical)
- Involved Region Radiation Therapy (35 Gy)
- Classical Hodgkin (and non-classical above Stage IA)
- Involved Region Radiation Therapy (30-35 Gy)
- In stage III-IV, radiation directed at sites of bulky disease up to 10 cm diameter
- Combination Chemotherapy of ABVD Regimen (see above)
- Stage I-II Favorable: 2-3 cycles at 28 day intervals
- Stage I-II Unfavorable: 4-6 cycles at 28 day intervals
- Stage III-IV: 6-8 cycles as 28 day intervals
- Involved Region Radiation Therapy (30-35 Gy)
XIII. Management: Monitoring following treatment
- See Lymphoma for general surveillance protocols
- Clinic visits
- Year 1-2: Every 3 months
- Year 3: Every 4 months
- Year 4-5: Every 6 months
- After year 5: Annually
- Labs: Follow local protocols (controversial due to low yield)
- Consider at each visit
- Complete Blood Count
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- Chemistry panel (e.g. chem8)
- Consider annually in first 5 years (if neck Radiation Therapy)
- Consider at each visit
- Imaging: Follow local protocols (controversial due to low yield)
- Chest XRay or Chest CT every 6-12 months for 2 years
- Abdomen and Pelvis CT every 6-12 months for 2 years
- Cardiovascular screening
- Lipid panel annually
- Consider Stress Imaging and Echocardiogram every 10 years
XIV. Prevention: Secondary
- Routine Health Maintenance and monitoring as described above
- Tobacco Cessation
-
Vaccination
- See Lymphoma for common Vaccinations for both Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
XV. Prognosis: General
- Prior to Chemotherapy had been uniformly fatal
- Large majority are now cured with Chemotherapy
- Overall survival rates after treatment
- Post-treatment by 1 year: 94% survival rate
- Post-treatment by 5 years: 85% survival rate
- Post-treatment by 10 years: 82% survival rate
- Post-treatment by 15 years: 74% survival rate
- Post-treatment by 20 years: 63% survival rate
- Five years survival rates based on staging (see above)
- Stage I: 90-95%
- Stage 2: 90-95%
- Stage 3: 85-90%
- Stage 4: 80%
XVI. Prognosis: Localized Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Adverse Factors
- Mediastinal Mass ratio >0.33 (N) or >0.35 (E/G)
- Nodal mass >10 cm (N)
- Age >50 years (E)
- Nodal regions >2 (G) or >3 (E)
- Increased Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (E/G)
- B Symptoms of fever, Night Sweats and weight loss present (N)
- Legend
- North America study group including United States and Canada (N)
- European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (E)
- German Hodgkin Study Group (G)
XVII. Prognosis: International Prognostic Score for Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Risk Factors
- Ann Arbor Stage IV Disease
- Male gender
- Age 45 years or older
- Hemoglobin <10.5 g/dl
- White Blood Cell Count >15,000/ul
- Lymphocyte Count <600/ul (or <8% of total White Blood Cell Count)
- Albumin <4.0 g/dl
- Interpretation: 5 year survival based on number of risk factors present
- No risk factors: 89%
- 1 risk factors: 90%
- 2 risk factors: 81%
- 3 risk factors: 78%
- 4 risk factors: 61%
- 5-7 risk factors: 56%
- References
XVIII. Complications
- See Lymphoma for complications shared by all Lymphomas
- Relapse
- Early-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma: 10-15% relapse rate
- Late-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma: 40% relapse rate
- Secondary malignancy (related to Chemotherapy and radiation)
- See Cancer Survivor Care
- Breast Cancer in women
- Follows latency of at least 10-15 years
- Higher risk with high dose radiation and age of treatment under 35
- Risk approaches 20% by age 45 years old
- Start annual Breast MRI and Mammogram 8-10 years after chest or axillary radiation (or by age 40 years)
- Lung Cancer
- Higher risk with Alkylating Agent exposure (old MOPP Chemotherapy protocols)
- Tobacco use compounds risk
- Leukemia (1-3% risk)
- Types: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Large cell lympoma, Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Higher risk with Alkylating Agent exposure (old MOPP Chemotherapy protocols)
- Lower risk with ABVD regimen used currently
- Thyroid Cancer
- Associated with prior neck irradiation
- Other adverse effects
- Cardiovascular disease
- Coronary Artery Disease (most common cardiovascular adverse effect)
- Associated with mediastinal radiation and Adriamycin exposure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Associated with Adriamycin exposure
- Increased risk in younger women and with higher Adriamycin doses
- Coronary Artery Disease (most common cardiovascular adverse effect)
- Pulmonary disease
- Pulmonary fibrosis associated with Bleomycin use
- Hypothyroidism
- Typically occurs in first 5 years after treatment (can occur up to 20 years later)
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Male Infertility
- Due to decreased spermatogenesis following Chemotherapy
- Lower risk with ABVD regimen
- Osteoporosis
- Paraneoplastic Syndromes (rare)
- Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration
- Dermatomyositis
- Polymyositis
- Cardiovascular disease
XIX. References
- Ansell (2006) Mayo Clin Proc 81(3):419-26 [PubMed]
- Connors (2005) J Clin Oncol 23:6400-8 [PubMed]
- Glass (2008) Am Fam Physician 78(5): 615-22 [PubMed]
- Horning in Lichtman (2006) Williams Hematology, 7 ed, McGraw Hill, p. 1461-82 [PubMed]
- Lewis (2020) Am Fam Physician 101(1):34-41 [PubMed]
- Tsang (2006) Curr Probl Cancer 30(3):107-58 [PubMed]
- Wilbur (2014) Am Fam Physician 91(1):29-36 [PubMed]