| General Illness Information |
Common Name: |
Hodgkin's
disease |
|
Medical Term:
|
Hodgkin's disease |
| Description: |
A malignant disease
of the lymphoid tissue
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Involves lymph glands,
white cells (lymphocytes) and the spleen.
|
|
May present as a
localized or generalized form of cancer.
|
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Has two age distribution
patterns--- One between the ages of 15 to 34 and the other
after the age of 60.
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Rare in children under
10.
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| Causes: |
|
Unknown.
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Viruses may be
implicated.
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| Prevention: |
No
specific preventive measures |
| Signs
& Symptoms |
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Enlarged non-tender lymph nodes, especially in
the neck.
Unexplained Fever
Night sweats
Weight loss
Fatigue
Anorexia
Unexplained itching
Alcohol-induced pain
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| Risk Factors |
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Immunodeficiency (inherited or acquired)
Autoimmune disorders
HIV infection
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| Diagnosis & Treatment |
|
Diagnostic
tests may include laboratory studies of blood and bone
marrow, lymphangiogram, biopsy of lymph node, CT scan of
chest and abdomen, and chest X-ray.
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| General
Measures: |
|
Treatment aimed for cure with
minimum toxicity, including treatment-induced late mortality
· Treatment
can be radiation therapy , chemotherapy, or combined
radiation and chemotherapy , based on stage and tumor
pathology.
|
|
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| Medications: |
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· Note: Must be
monitored by experienced oncologist
ABVD chemotherapy - 4 week cycles
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) - 25 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 15
Bleomycin 10 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 15
Vinblastine 6.0 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 15
Dacarbazine 375 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 15
Repeat cycles at least 6 times if blood
counts permit
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| Activity: |
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No restrictions
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| Possible
Complications : |
|
Secondary malignancies
following therapy
Sterility.
Hypothyroidism
Bone marrow suppression
Infections, including herpes zoster
Anemia
Platelet failure.
Coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy
Radiation pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis
Transient radiation myelopathy.
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|
| Prognosis |
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Overall 5 year survival 82%
75% long term survival
10 year survival rates correlate with
stage at diagnosis.
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