Paediatric hodgkin's lymphoma: A study of 3 cases

Of all the pediatric malignancies, lymphomas account for about 10-15% of the cases with half of them diagnosed as Hodgkin's lymphoma. Remarkably, this malignancy has a high cure rate with a 5-year survival rate approaching 95%. Hodgkin's lymphoma has an overall incidence rate of 14 per 100,000 less than 15 years of age. It has a typical bimodal distribution with respect to age. In developed countries, the peak incidence is seen in young adults and the elderly. While, in developing countries the incidence is higher among children and young adults with a male preponderance. Histologically, mixed cellularity subtype of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs commonly in the children and in developing countries. We report three typical cases of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, mixed cellularity subtype with early-stage unfavorable disease presenting as a slightly painful right cervical mass and “B” symptoms. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated. Ultrasound neck scan suggested tuberculous lymphadenitis. Other laboratory and radiological findings were normal. Fine needle aspiration smears and histopathology helped in arriving at diagnosis of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, mixed cellularity subtype