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Tipos de C�ncer > Cánceres Pediátricos > Linfomas: Linfoma Hodgkin (Infancia) > Descripción
Pediatric Hodgkin's Disease: The Basics
Christopher Dolinsky, MD and Christine Hill-Kayser, MD
Affiliation:
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Ultima Vez Modificado: 27 de febrero del 2008
What are lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes are small, grape-sized glands that exist throughout the body and make up part of the lymphatic fluid circulation system. Lymphatic fluid (or lymph) is a clear fluid that leaks out of blood vessels, and in order for the body to keep the blood volume constant, is collected and returned to the blood via the lymphatic circulation. Lymph nodes are connected to each other by lymph vessels that transfer the lymphatic fluid. Before returning the lymph to the blood, lymph nodes clean up the fluid, filtering out infection-causing germs (bacteria, viruses, etc.) and helping to fight any infections that may be present. Most people can remember having swollen "glands" under their neck when they had an infection. Those "glands" were swollen lymph nodes that were reacting to the infection.
Clusters of lymph nodes exist in particular parts of the body, like the neck, the underarm, and the groin. There are also specific organs in the body that are considered part of the lymphatic system, like the spleen and the tonsils. These organs and the lymph nodes are the major regions of the body where lymphatic tissue is found, but small amounts of can also be found in many of the other organs in the body.
What is Hodgkin's disease?
Hodgkin's disease is a disease of lymph nodes and lymphatic tissues, called a lymphoma. There are other types of lymphomas besides Hodgkin's disease, but they will be discussed in a separate review. Hodgkin's disease occurs when cells in the lymph nodes begin to grow out of control and compress nearby tissues, or spread throughout the body via the lymphatic circulation. Hodgkin's disease is distinguished from the other types of lymphomas by the way it looks under a microscope and by the way it grows and spreads.
Am I at risk for Hodgkin's disease?
Hodgkin's disease is an uncommon cancer in children, making up 6% of all childhood cancers. It occurs much more commonly in males, and is more more common during adolescence than in early childhood. In fact, Hodgkin's disease is extremely rare in children under the age of 5 years.
No one knows what causes Hodgkin's disease. It has been theorized that the development of Hodgkin's disease is related to infection with a virus, although this is not known for certain. No clear-cut associations have been found with exposures to toxins, chemicals, or environmental agents. First degree relatives of patients with Hodgkin's disease have a higher chance of developing the disease, but exactly how genetics control this disease is poorly understood.
Contracting the HIV virus may be a risk factor for developing Hodgkin's disease. It has been recognized that Hodgkin's disease in HIV-infected patients is generally more aggressive and advanced than in non-HIV-infected patients. However, researchers disagree as to the importance of this finding.