Thomas Hodgkin first described Hodgkin's disease in 1832, according to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Since this time, this form of cancer has been studied extensively by thousands of scientists. The National Cancer Institute adds that 8,000 people a year are diagnosed with this cancer in the United States. Hodgkin's disease is a type of lymphoma, meaning that the cancer stems from the cells of the immune system. There are several subtypes of Hodgkin's disease, which are classified by their distinct pathology.
Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin Disease
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 60 to 80 percent of Hodgkin's disease cases are of this type, making it the most common subtype of Hodgkin's disease. The presence of a Reed-Sternberg cell, an abnormal and very large cell, makes nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease a classic form of the disease. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey adds that the division of the lymph node by scars that are thick and fibrous bands, which is characteristic of "sclerosis," distinguishes this subtype of Hodgkin's disease from others.
Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin's Disease
This form of Hodgkin's disease also has the characteristic Reed-Sternberg cells, according to the American Cancer Society, which classifies mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease as another subtype of classic Hodgkin's disease. Along with the Reed-Sternberg cells, many different types of abnormal cells are present when a tissue sample is analyzed underneath the microscope. This is the second most common type of Hodgkin's disease, accounting for 15 to 30 percent of all cases.
Lymphocyte-rich and Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's DIsease
The American Cancer Society describes lymphocyte-rich and lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's disease as two more subtypes of classical Hodgkin's disease. Lymph nodes from people with both diseases have the characteristic Reed-Sternberg cell, but the diseases differ based on the type of associated cells. The lymphocyte-rich form of this disease is rare, making up only 5 percent of all cases of Hodgkin's disease, and is usually confined to only a few lymph nodes in the upper part of the body. Under the microscope, multiple normal cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes, can be seen in the lymph node. The lymphocyte-depleted form is even more rare, consisting of only 1 percent of all cases of Hodgkin's disease. Few normal lymphocytes, but many Reed-Sternberg cells characterize this subtype.
Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin's Disease
The National Cancer Institute describes this form of Hodgkin's disease as having a type of characteristic cell different from the Reed-Sternberg cell, called a popcorn cell. The National Cancer Institute also states that the treatment for this form of Hodgkin's disease is different than for the classical types listed above. The American Cancer Society adds that nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease is a rare subtype, accounting for only 5 percent of total cases. Often, only the lymph nodes in the neck and under the arms are affected.
References
- The National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Hodgkin Lymphoma
- The American Cancer Society: What is Hodgkin Disease?
- University of Medicine and Dentristry of New Jersey: Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL): An Overview
- University of Medicine and Dentristry of New Jersey: Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL):Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin Disease
