Low-Risk Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma
Intermediate-Risk Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma
High-Risk Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma
Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of low-risk childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with low- dose radiation therapy to involved areas.
• A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy with or without low-dose radiation therapy to involved areas.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ¹ and stage II childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ².

Treatment of intermediate-risk childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with low- dose radiation therapy to involved areas.
• A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy with or without low-dose radiation therapy to involved areas.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of chemotherapy before low-dose radiation therapy to involved areas.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ¹, stage II childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ², stage III childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ³ and stage IV childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ⁴.

Treatment of high-risk childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may include intensive or high-dose combination chemotherapy with low- dose radiation therapy to involved areas.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ³ and stage IV childhood Hodgkin lymphoma ⁴.

Treatment of nodular lymphocyte predominant childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with low- dose radiation therapy to involved areas.
• Combination chemotherapy.
• Surgery.
• A clinical trial of surgery to remove a single lymph node.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma ⁵.

Glossary Terms

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

Treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

The amount of medicine taken, or radiation given, at one time.

An intensive drug treatment to kill cancer cells, but that also destroys the bone marrow and can cause other severe side effects. High-dose chemotherapy is usually followed by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation to rebuild the bone marrow.

A cancer of the immune system that is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The two major types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or other immune tissue. Other symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats. Also called Hodgkin disease.

A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

A rare type of Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system. It is marked by the presence of a type of cell called a popcorn cell, which is different from the typical Reed-Sternberg cell found in classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This type of Hodgkin lymphoma may change into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Also called NLPHL.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.