What Is Hodgkin Disease?



Types of lymphoma

There are 2 kinds of lymphomas:

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma



For information on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, see Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

The lymph system and lymphoid tissue

To understand what Hodgkin disease is, it helps to know how the lymph system works.

The lymph system (also known as the lymphatic system) is part of the immune system, which helps fight infections and some other diseases. It also helps fluids move in the body. The lymph system is composed mainly of:

  • Lymphoid tissue: includes the lymph nodes and related organs (see below) that are part of the immune and blood-forming systems


Lymphoid tissue is made up mainly of cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. The 2 major types of lymphocytes are B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). Normal B cells and T cells have different jobs.

  • B lymphocytes: B cells help protect the body from germs (bacteria and viruses) by making proteins called antibodies. The antibodies attach to the germs, marking them for destruction by other parts of the immune system. Almost all cases of Hodgkin disease start in B lymphocytes.
  • T lymphocytes: There are several types of T cells, and each has a special job. Some T cells directly destroy certain kinds of bacteria or cells infected with viruses or fungi. Other types of T cells play a role in either boosting or slowing the activity of other immune system cells.

Organs that have lymphoid tissue


Illustration showing the lymphatic system in the body

The major sites of lymphoid tissue are:

Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of lymphocytes and other immune system cells throughout the body, including inside the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. They can sometimes be felt as small lumps under the skin in the neck, under the arms, and in the groin. Lymph nodes are connected to each other by a system of lymphatic vessels.

Lymph nodes get bigger when they fight an infection. Lymph nodes that grow because of infection are called reactive or hyperplastic nodes. These often hurt when they are touched. People with sore throats or colds might have enlarged neck lymph nodes. An enlarged lymph node is not always a sign of a serious problem, but it can be a sign of Hodgkin disease. See “ Signs and symptoms of Hodgkin disease” for more information.




Adenoids and tonsils: These are collections of lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat. They help make antibodies against germs that are breathed in or swallowed.

Digestive tract: The stomach, intestines, and many other organs also have lymphoid tissue.

Start and spread of Hodgkin disease



Types of Hodgkin disease


  • Classic Hodgkin disease (which has several subtypes)
  • Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin disease

All types of Hodgkin disease are malignant (cancerous) because as they grow they can invade and destroy normal tissue and spread to other tissues.

Classic Hodgkin disease


The cancer cells in classic HD are called Reed-Sternberg cells (after the 2 doctors who first described them). These cells are usually an abnormal type of B lymphocyte. Reed-Sternberg cells are much larger than normal lymphocytes and also look different from the cells of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and other cancers.

The enlarged lymph nodes in classic HD usually have a small number of Reed-Sternberg cells and a large number of surrounding normal immune cells. It is mainly these other immune cells that account for the enlarged lymph nodes.

Classic HD has 4 subtypes:

Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin disease: This is the most common type of Hodgkin disease in developed countries, accounting for about 60% to 80% of cases. It is most common in teens and young adults, but it can occur in people of any age. It tends to start in lymph nodes in the neck or chest.




Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin disease

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin disease (NLPHD) accounts for about 5% of Hodgkin disease. The cancer cells in NLPHD are large cells called popcorn cells (because they look like popcorn), which are variants of Reed-Sternberg cells.


The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

