hodgkin's lymphoma | Hodgkin's lymphoma: the cells involved

Hodgkin's lymphoma: the cells involved

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. However, these are specific cells that are involved, which distinguishes it from the so-called "non Hodgkin" lymphomas. So what are these cells involved in Hodgkin's cancer and what are the different types of Hodgkin's lymphomas?


Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's lymphoma
The main feature of Hodgkin's lymphoma (named after its discoverer, in 1832), which distinguishes it from non-Hodgkin lymphomas, is the involvement of Reed-Sternberg cells (described in 1898 by Carl Sternberg and in 1902 by Dorothy Reed). These cells, relatively rare at the level of the tumor recovered (less than 1% of tumor cells), present several peculiarities. It is noted, for example, that they are large (50 µm) and have a particularly large and irregular nucleus.

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Different types of Hodgkin lymphomas
There are several types of Hodgkin lymphomas. Hodgkin's lymphomas of lichen-nodular form mix Reed-Sternberg and white blood cells. These are the most common Hodgkin lymphomas (about 70% of them). Hodgkin's lymphomas with mixed cellularity have many more Reed-Sternberg cells and affect mainly older adults (about 15% of Hodgkin lymphomas). Lymphocyte-Rich Hodgkin lymphomas (about 10% of lymphomas) do not have Reed-Sternberg cells, but other abnormal cells are found, which is why they are classified in Hodgkin lymphomas. For lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's lymphomas (less than 5% of cases), they are characterized by an extremely large number of Reed-Sternberg cells in cancerous lymph nodes.

The symptoms of lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that can affect everyone and at any age. Its two main forms: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. Update on the main symptoms with Dr. Emmanuel Rabino, hematologist at Hôpital Saint-Louis (Paris).


A little known cancer
What is it: these are cancers that develop in the lymphatic system * and affect certain cells of the immune system, lymphocytes. The latter begin to multiply in an anarchic way and to create tumors, most often in the lymph nodes.
Frequency: About 10 000 people/year in France.
2 Categories: This cancer comes in 2 different forms, non-Hodgkin lymphomas in 90% * * Cases and Hodgkin's disease. These two forms are differentiated by the nature of cancer-affected cells.
People at risk:  "This can be declared at any age, both in men and women. It all depends on the type of lymphoma, says Dr. Rabino.
Risk factors: Exposure to certain viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, HIV...), pesticides...

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* The lymphatic system transports the lymph in which certain nutrients circulate, but also the cells used to defend the organism, the B and T lymphocytes (white blood cells) in particular. It refers to the entire system involved in the body's defense process, and understands: spleen, thymus, tonsils, lymph nodes... * * There are several dozen types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (diffuse lymphoma Large cells, follicular lymphoma B, Burkitt lymphoma...) . According to their rapid evolution, they are divided into two classes: indolent and aggressive lymphomas.