Understanding Hodgkin Lymphoma -- Diagnosis and Treatment
How Do I Know If I Have Hodgkin Lymphoma?
The diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma can only be made by a tissue biopsy -- cutting a tissue sample for examination. If you have an enlarged, painless lymph node that your doctor suspects may be due to Hodgkin lymphoma, tissue will be taken for biopsy or the entire node will be removed. The diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma can be confirmed if a type of cell, called a Reed-Sternberg cell, is seen.
If a biopsy reveals that you do have Hodgkin lymphoma, you may need additional tests to determine the extent, or stage, of the disease. Tests include blood tests, chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and possibly the neck, and a PET scans. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, bone scans, spinal tap (lumbar puncture), and bone marrow studies are useful under special circumstances.
Treatment Options for Children and Adolescents with Hodgkin Lymphoma
A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you. Low-Risk Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment of low-risk childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following: Combination chemotherapy with low-doseradiation therapy to involved areas. A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy with...
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These tests will confirm the stage of the disease and the best type of therapy to pursue.
What Are the Stages of Hodgkin Lymphoma?
The outlook and treatment of Hodgkin depends on the stage it is in, or how widespread the disease. The stages are:
Stage I. Hodgkin lymphoma is found in only one lymph node area or or structure (such as the spleen).
Stage II. Hodgkin lymphoma is found in two or more lymph node areas on the same side of the diaphragm (the muscle beneath the lungs that moves up and down to help you breathe).
Stage III. Hodgkin lymphoma is in lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm, or the cancer cells may also have extended to an area or organ adjacent to the lymph node and/or to the spleen.
Stage IV. Hodgkin lymphoma has spread to one or more organs outside the lymphatic system, such as the bone marrow or liver.
Refractory or recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. Refractory disease is the term used when the disease does not respond to initial therapy. Recurrent disease means that Hodgkin lymphoma has come back after it has been treated. This may occur shortly after treatment or, less commonly, years later.
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