Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Hodgkin Lymphoma

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.

Insight:

• Hodgkin lymphoma may affect people of any age but is most common in people between 20 and 40 years of age and those over 55 years of age.
• Symptoms include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, severe itching, and increased sensitivity to alcohol or pain.
• Subtypes of classical Hodgkin lymphoma include nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma, mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, and lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Risk factors include age between 15 to 30 years and over 55 years, family history of lymphoma, being male, and past Epstein-Barr infection
• Diagnosis includes physical exam, blood tests, imaging tests, removing the lymph node for testing and removing a sample of bone marrow for testing
• Treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy and bone marrow transplant
• Chemotherapy options include:

Sources:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
• Chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma | Hodgkin Lymphoma & Chemo (cancer.org)