Hodgkin's lymphomas

Lymphatic system tumor

Lymphoma - or Hodgkin's syndrome, also called malignant lymphogranuloma, is a fairly rare neoplasm of the lymphatic system, when compared with non-Hodgkin type tumors; the disease bears the name of the discoverer, Thomas Hodgkin, who described this neoplastic form for the first time around the 1830s.

Incidence

Hodgkin's lymphoma manifests in one subject every seven affected by lymphatic neoplasms; in particular, it occurs in males, usually seniors over seventy, and in young people between the ages of 20 and 30, although cases of children suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma have been recorded. The staggering figure emerges from the latest statistics: it seems, in fact, that Hodgkin's lymphoma is on the rise, since about 8, 000 new cases a year have been diagnosed.

Important feature

Hodgkin's lymphoma differs from all other types of lymphatic system tumors by the presence of abnormal cells - called Reed-Sternberg - that do not develop in other lymphatic neoplasms (hence the name "non Hodgkin" for all tumors lymphatics that do not have Reed-Sternberg cells).

Hodgkin's lymphoma mainly affects lymph node districts, extending between neighboring lymph nodes: that is, in general, Hodgkin's lymphoma does not localize in extra-lymphatic areas but tends to spread malignant cells into lymphatic organs. To clarify, the WHO has realized a classification inherent to the various forms of Hodgkin's lymphoma: classical (in which lymphocyte depletion occurs, nodular sclerosis, cellular heterogeneity and overabundance of lymphocytes), lymphocyte-nodular, and unclassifiable Hodgkin's lymphoma (not it shows similar symptoms neither to the classic lymphoma nor to that of the lympho-otercine-nodular one).

Symptoms

Hodgkin's lymphoma begins with an inguinal, cervical or axillary swelling, often associated with alteration of body temperature ( Pel-Ebstein fever), excessive sweating (especially at night), itching, asthenia, dry cough and pain (caused by a generalized vasodilation, which determines histamine release). Unfortunately, however, most people with Hodgkin's lymphoma do not manifest these symptoms consistently, so the disease is not diagnosed at the first manifestations. Similarly, not all subjects complaining of these disorders are necessarily affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hodgkin's syndrome is painless: in most cases, tumors are not of soft consistency (such as lipomas), but appear hard and not woody. They mainly affect the cervical area (60% of cases), the mediastinum (20%), the groin and the armpits.

Diagnosis

The expert who makes the diagnosis, to ascertain Hodgkin's lymphoma, will have to proceed with a biopsy, as well as with the microscopic analysis of a surgically removed lymphoma.

If the diagnostic test is positive, the doctor will have to evaluate the evolutionary stage of the lymphoma: the mildest stage occurs when Hodgkin's lymphoma remains circumscribed in a lymphatic area. The lymphoma can then progress, slowly but surely, until reaching the fourth level, characterized by the expansion of the same to the liver, marrow and other non-lymphatic areas.

Depending on the location, the number, the cellular composition, the morphology of the lymphoma and the symptomatology, one opts for the most suitable therapy to fight it. Obviously, the more the lymphoma has evolved, the more complicated it will be to defeat it; consequently the patient's chances of survival decrease.

Causes

The cause that triggers Hodgkin's lymphoma is not yet defined, although the tumor is still being studied; however, a correlation with some viral pathologies and with the alteration of the immune system is possible.

therapies

As for possible therapies, Hodgkin's lymphoma can be treated with radiotherapy (a cure particularly indicated for the first three stages of the disease) and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is very efficient for the resolution of Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as mixed chemotherapy (mono-chemotherapy is not considered as it does not give appreciable results), which inhibits the progression of malignant cells and prevents the growth of new neoplastic cells.

In the last decade, studies have been carried out that have led to the formation of new knowledge: to combat relapsed Hodgkin's lymphomas, which do not respond correctly to chemo / radiotherapy therapies, treatment with stem cells could be a solution, albeit still in the phase of experimentation.

To conclude, currently, thanks to medical discoveries, 80% of people affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma recover.

Summary

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