Hodgkin Lymphoma in Young Adults: Diagnosis and Treatment- A Brief Review

Abstract

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most prevalent hematologic malignancies in young adults, accounting for approximately 10–15% of cases in this age group. Clinically and epidemiologically, diagnosis is based on peripheral or mediastinal lymphadenopathy, with “B symptoms” present in about 30% of patients. Histological confirmation, via excisional biopsy, reveals Reed–Sternberg cells within a characteristic inflammatory stroma. Staging is performed with PET/CT according to the modified Ann Arbor system, guiding therapeutic decisions. The ABVD protocol (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) remains the gold standard, yielding five year overall survival rates exceeding 85% in early stages. In high risk or refractory cases, intensified regimens such as escalated BEACOPP, as well as targeted therapies (including brentuximab vedotin and PD 1 checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab, pembrolizumab), have shown promising efficacy. Response assessment by PET allows treatment adaptation, reducing late toxicities such as cardiotoxicity, infertility, and secondary malignancies. In this review, we synthesize diagnostic and therapeutic advances and future perspectives to optimize the balance between efficacy and safety in young adults.