Thomas Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

In 1832 Thomas Hodgkin, a physician at Guy's Hospital in London, published a description of seven cases of lymph nodes with unusual changes. Little did he suspect that this publication would lead to recognition of the now-familiar entity that has come to be known as Hodgkin lymphoma. In the years that have passed since that publication, diagnostic criteria and a straightforward system for subclassification of Hodgkin lymphoma have been established. The cell of origin for the characteristic neoplastic cell, the Reed-Sternberg cell, was identified after much scientific struggle. With improvements in therapy, the prognosis for Hodgkin lymphoma patients has improved remarkably; indeed, the development of effective treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma serves as a medical success story. Current investigation focuses on better understanding of the intricacies of the complex biology of Hodgkin lymphoma, including the genetic changes underlying its pathogenesis, and improving therapy for the minority of patients who do not respond well to currently available treatment.