HODGKIN’S DISEASE – INTRODUCTION | Health News. Lots of resources and information

May 15 2009

HODGKIN’S DISEASE – INTRODUCTION

Hodgkin’s disease was first described by Thomas Hodgkin, a pathologist at Guy’s Hospital, London, in the early 19th Century

It has been regarded as a malignancy, or cancer, affecting the lymph nodes.

Lymphoid tissues are scattered throughout the body, usually in localised collections such as the tonsils, the adenoids, the spleen, in the wall of the small bowel, and in the lymph nodes or glands in the neck, under the arm and in the groin.

This tissue is concerned with the body’s defence against infection and foreign tissue introduced into the body.

It is part of the immune system and is full of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells — present in the blood and bone marrow and in these collections of lymphoid tissue.

The lymphocytes produce antibodies.

Hodgkin’s disease is now regarded as perhaps two or three different but related disorders.

It occurs more commonly in males than in females. And although it may occur at any age, there are three peaks where it’s more common — in middle childhood, young adulthood and in old age.