The cancer cells in cHL are called Reed-Sternberg cells.
These cells are usually an abnormal type of B lymphocyte. Enlarged lymph nodes in people with cHL usually have a small number of Reed-Sternberg cells with a lot of normal immune cells around them.
These other immune cells cause most of the swelling in the lymph nodes.
Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
According to the American Cancer Society nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) accounts for about 5% of cases.
The cancer cells in NLPHL are large cells called popcorn cells (because they look like popcorn), which are variants of Reed-Sternberg cells. You may also hear these cells called lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) cells.
NLPHL usually starts in lymph nodes in the neck and under the arm. It can occur in people of any age, and is more common in men than in women. This type of HL tends to grow more slowly and is treated differently from the classic types.
Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment: Less is More
What are the treatments?
The American Cancer Society reports that chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the main treatments for HL. Depending on the case, one or both of these treatments might be used.
Certain patients might be treated with immunotherapy or with a stem cell transplant, especially if other treatments haven’t worked. Except for biopsy and staging, surgery is rarely used to treat HL.