Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin disease is now more commonly called Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system, involving abnormal lymphocytes. Hodgkin lymphoma is a B-cell-derived malignancy in which the diagnostic malignant cells are Reed-Sternberg cells within an inflammatory background. The hallmark finding is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells on biopsy. Hodgkin lymphoma often presents with painless swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck, axilla, chest, or groin. Common systemic findings include fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, and pruritus. The abnormal cells usually begin in a lymph node and may spread in a relatively contiguous pattern to neighbouring nodal groups. Disease can later involve the spleen, bone marrow, liver, or other organs. Enlarged mediastinal nodes may compress nearby structures, producing cough, chest pressure, or shortness of breath. For the RPN, the priority is to recognize concerning symptoms, monitor for complications, support treatment tolerance, prevent infection, and escalate abnormal findings promptly. A palpable node can suggest the diagnosis, but it cannot establish it; tissue diagnosis and formal staging determine the treatment pathway.