Hodgkin's disease

First described by Sir Thomas Hodgkin in 1832 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a malignant proliferation of the lymphoid system.

• the disease is characterised by the presence of multinucleated giant cells (Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg - HRS) within a cellular infiltrate of non-malignant inflammatory cells that make up the majority of the tumour tissue on histological examination (1)
• HRS cells have been identified clonal B cells that lack typical B-cell surface antigens (1)

HL can be classified as:

• nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (NLPHL)
  • represents about 5% of all cases of the disease
  • HRS cells are not present
• classical HL - this is further dived into four sub-types
  • nodular sclerosis - accounts for 70% of all classical HL
  • mixed cellularity
  • lymphocyte-rich
  • lymphocyte-depleted (1)

Reference:

• (1) Guidelines for the First Line Management of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (2014). British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH)