Print Overview Parts of the immune system Enlarge image Close Parts of the immune system Parts of the immune system The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system, which protects against infection and disease. The lymphatic system includes the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and lymph channels, as well as the tonsils and adenoids. Lymph node clusters Enlarge image Close Lymph node clusters Lymph node clusters Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of cells called lymphocytes. Hundreds of these nodes cluster throughout the lymphatic system, for example, near the knee, groin, neck and armpits. The nodes are connected by a network of lymphatic vessels. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, causing swollen lymph nodes and growths throughout the body. Hodgkin's lymphoma, which used to be called Hodgkin's disease, is one of two general categories of lymphoma. The other is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped give people with this disease the chance for a full recovery. The prognosis continues to improve for people with Hodgkin's lymphoma.Products & ServicesA Book: Living MedicineMayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterShow more products from Mayo Clinic Types Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Lymphoma Symptoms Swollen lymph nodes Enlarge image Close Swollen lymph nodes Swollen lymph nodes One of the most common places to find swollen lymph nodes is in the neck. The inset shows three swollen lymph nodes below the lower jaw. Signs and symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma may include: Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin Persistent fatigue Fever Night sweats Losing weight without trying Severe itching Pain in your lymph nodes after drinking alcohol When to see a doctorMake an appointment with your health care provider if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get Mayo Clinic cancer expertise delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive an in-depth guide to coping with cancer, plus helpful information on how to get a second opinion. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. I would like to learn more about Up-to-date cancer news & research Mayo Clinic cancer care & management options ErrorSelect a topic Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest about cancer news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesDoctors aren't sure what causes Hodgkin's lymphoma. They know that it begins when infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The DNA changes tell the cells to multiply rapidly and to continue living when other cells would naturally die. The lymphoma cells attract many healthy immune system cells to protect them and help them grow. The extra cells crowd into the lymph nodes and cause swelling and other Hodgkin's lymphoma signs and symptoms. There are multiple types of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Your type is based on the characteristics of the cells involved in your disease and their behavior. The type of lymphoma you have helps determines your treatment options. Classical Hodgkin's lymphomaClassical Hodgkin's lymphoma is the more common type of this disease. People diagnosed with this type have large lymphoma cells called Reed-Sternberg cells in their lymph nodes. Subtypes of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma include: Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma Mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's lymphoma Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin's lymphoma Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphomaThis much rarer type of Hodgkin's lymphoma involves lymphoma cells that are sometimes called popcorn cells because of their appearance. Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma is usually diagnosed at an early stage and may require less intensive treatments compared to the classical type of the disease. Risk factorsFactors that can increase the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma include: Your age. Hodgkin's lymphoma is most often diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s and those over age 55. A family history of lymphoma. Having a blood relative with Hodgkin's lymphoma increases your risk of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma. Being male. People who are assigned male at birth are slightly more likely to develop Hodgkin's lymphoma than are those who are assigned female. Past Epstein-Barr infection. People who have had illnesses caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, such as infectious mononucleosis, are more likely to develop Hodgkin's lymphoma than are people who haven't had Epstein-Barr infections. HIV infection. People who are infected with HIV have an increased risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma. By Mayo Clinic Staff Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) care at Mayo Clinic Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment March 08, 2022 Print Living with hodgkin's lymphoma (hodgkin's disease)? Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient community. Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Discussions Follicular lymphoma patient. New doctor wants to do bone marrow test 8 Replies Sat, Oct 28, 2023 chevron-right “Too young for cancer” 10 Replies Sun, Nov 05, 2023 chevron-right Alveolar soft part sarcoma 7 Replies Thu, Sep 21, 2023 chevron-right See more discussions Show references Hodgkin lymphoma. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=1&id=1439. Nov. 15, 2021. Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ) — patient version. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-hodgkin-treatment-pdq. Accessed Nov. 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2021. Aster JC, et al. Pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 1, 2021. Hoffman R, et al. Hodgkin lymphoma: Clinical manifestations, staging and therapy. In: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 25, 2021. Ansell SM. Hodgkin lymphoma: A 2020 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification and management. American Journal of Hematology. 2020; doi:10.1002/ajh.25856. Side effects of chemotherapy. Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/chemotherapy/side-effects-chemotherapy. Accessed Dec. 1, 2021. Side effects of radiation therapy. Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/side-effects-radiation-therapy. Accessed Dec. 1, 2021. Side effects of a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant). Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/bone-marrowstem-cell-transplantation/side-effects-bone-marrow-transplant-stem-cell-transplant. Accessed Dec. 1, 2021. Distress management. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=3&id=1431. Nov. 15, 2021. Lymphoma SPOREs. National Cancer Institute. https://trp.cancer.gov/spores/lymphoma.htm. Accessed Nov. 15, 2021. Laurent C, et al. Impact of expert pathologic review of lymphoma diagnosis: Study of patients from the French Lymphopath Network. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2017; doi:10.1200/JCO.2016.71.2083. Braswell-Pickering BA. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 3, 2021. Goyal G, et al. Association between facility volume and mortality of patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer. 2020; doi:10.1002/cncr.32584. Member institutions. Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. https://www.allianceforclinicaltrialsinoncology.org/main/public/standard.xhtml?path=%2FPublic%2FInstitutions. Accessed Dec. 7, 2021. NRG Oncology list of main member, LAPS and NCORP sites. NRG Oncology. https://www.nrgoncology.org/About-Us/Membership/Member-Institution-Lists. Accessed Dec. 7, 2021. Related Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: What's the difference? Associated Procedures Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow transplant Chemotherapy CT scan MRI Positron emission tomography scan Radiation therapy X-ray Show more associated procedures News from Mayo Clinic Brentuximab vedotin may improve overall survival in patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma July 14, 2022, 04:22 p.m. CDT Products & Services A Book: Living Medicine Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCare atMayoClinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get Mayo Clinic cancer expertise delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive an in-depth guide to coping with cancer, plus helpful information on how to get a second opinion. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. I would like to learn more about Up-to-date cancer news & research Mayo Clinic cancer care & management options ErrorSelect a topic Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest about cancer news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry