Definition of Hodgkin's disease
Hodgkin's disease
Hodgkin's disease belongs to the family of lymphoma, blood cancer affecting the lymphoid tissue and more specifically lymphocytes. One of its features is to spread closer and closer, touching a lymph node and its neighbor by a chain effect.
Causes and risk factors for Hodgkin's disease
Hodgkin's disease is one of the cancers whose causes are still poorly understood, probably multifactorial. In at least one third of cases, the involvement of Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus, infectious mononucleosis, is known (as in other lymphomas), but it is not enough to trigger cancer.
Familial forms are exceptional. The medical community is currently estimated that the disease is caused by a combination of chronic infection due to an infectious agent (EBV or other) and an unknown factor. Chronic stimulation of the immune system could then increase the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Symptoms of Hodgkin's disease
One symptom is painless increase of one or more lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. Other signs may occur such as weight loss, fever, night sweats, severe fatigue. person may also be suffering from intense itching.
Figures
According to the National Institute for Public Health, 1544 cases of Hodgkin's disease were detected in 2005. Mortality associated with this disease is constantly decreasing.
Stages of the disease
There are four stages in Hodgkin's disease:
Stage I: Hodgkin's disease is localized only in the lymph nodes.
Stage II disease spread to other lymph nodes on the same side of the diaphragm.
Stage III: spread to the lymph on both sides of the diaphragm.
Stage IV: extra nodal location (bone marrow hematopoietic lungs ..).
Treatment of Hodgkin's disease
The treatment combines chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in the invaded area. It became an international standard protocol achieves 95% complete remissions and less than 10% of relapses in localized forms, which represent three quarters of cases of Hodgkin's disease.
Hodgkin's disease belongs to the family of lymphoma, blood cancer affecting the lymphoid tissue and more specifically lymphocytes. One of its features is to spread closer and closer, touching a lymph node and its neighbor by a chain effect.
Causes and risk factors for Hodgkin's disease
Hodgkin's disease is one of the cancers whose causes are still poorly understood, probably multifactorial. In at least one third of cases, the involvement of Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus, infectious mononucleosis, is known (as in other lymphomas), but it is not enough to trigger cancer.
Familial forms are exceptional. The medical community is currently estimated that the disease is caused by a combination of chronic infection due to an infectious agent (EBV or other) and an unknown factor. Chronic stimulation of the immune system could then increase the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Symptoms of Hodgkin's disease
One symptom is painless increase of one or more lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. Other signs may occur such as weight loss, fever, night sweats, severe fatigue. person may also be suffering from intense itching.
Figures
According to the National Institute for Public Health, 1544 cases of Hodgkin's disease were detected in 2005. Mortality associated with this disease is constantly decreasing.
Stages of the disease
There are four stages in Hodgkin's disease:
Stage I: Hodgkin's disease is localized only in the lymph nodes.
Stage II disease spread to other lymph nodes on the same side of the diaphragm.
Stage III: spread to the lymph on both sides of the diaphragm.
Stage IV: extra nodal location (bone marrow hematopoietic lungs ..).
Treatment of Hodgkin's disease
The treatment combines chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in the invaded area. It became an international standard protocol achieves 95% complete remissions and less than 10% of relapses in localized forms, which represent three quarters of cases of Hodgkin's disease.
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