What is Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Also known as: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, Hodgkin’s disease.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the body’s lymphatic system (immune system). The lymphatic system is a network of cells (nodes) connected by channels which collects, and filters fluid and foreign material from the body and at the same time produces cells (lymphocytes) which help protect the body from infections.

When the lymph nodes cells multiply without control they produce lymphomas. Because lymph cells/tissue are found everywhere in the body, lymphomas can be found throughout the body. There are two types of lymphomas: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin (NHL) lymphoma which can be separated by the type of abnormal white blood cell (lymphocyte) found.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM