Overview Flashcards
What is the age distribution of Hodgkin lymphoma and how common is pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma?
The age-specific incidence for Hodgkin lymphoma is bimodal with peaks in the 20s and 50s. Hodgkin lymphoma makes up 6% to 7% of childhood cancers, with approximately 1,140 cases per year in the United States.
Ward, E, DeSantis, C, Robbins, A, et al. Childhood and adolescent cancer statistics, 2014. CA Cancer J Clin. 2014;64(2):83-103.
How does a child with Hodgkin lymphoma typically present?
Most children present with painless cervical adenopathy (80%) and mediastinal involvement occurs in greater than 70% of adolescents but only 33% in children aged 1 to 10 years. One third of patients present with “B” symptoms, consisting of fevers (>38° C), drenching night sweats, and unexplained weight loss of greater than 10% of body weight in the preceding 6 months.
Kaplan, H. Hodgkin’s Disease. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1980:222.
How does NLPHL differ from the subtypes of classic Hodgkin disease?
NLPHL has a distinct cell, which is CD20 positive and CD15 negative. Classical Reed–Sternberg cells, which are CD15 and CD30 positive, are rare. NLPHL has a long natural history and often presents with a single lymph node involved, often sparing the mediastinum, and is more common in young children. Adolescents with early-stage NLPHL may be treated with a single modality (irradiation alone with a dose of 30-36 Gy, surgery alone for single lymph node, or chemotherapy alone if CR).
