Master Hodgkin's Lymphoma Interventions with Picmonic for Nursing RN

Excisional lymph node biopsy is the main diagnostic tool for determining Hodgkin's lymphoma. The presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph node specimen indicates disease.

The staging of Hodgkin's lymphoma is based on Ann Arbor Staging Criteria, the presence of B symptoms, and results of CT and PET scans. The classification of A or B indicates whether the symptoms were present after diagnosing the disease. A Roman numeral between I to IV reflects the location and extent of the disease. Staging the disease determines the patient's treatment plan.

The tumors associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma have high radiosensitivity and respond well to external radiation therapy of involved lymph node regions. Radiation may be supplemented with chemotherapy depending on the site of disease and presence of resistant disease after chemotherapy treatment.

Patients with severe progression of Hodgkin's lymphoma may be treated with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. The standard chemotherapy plan for patients with early stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma is the ABVD regimen. Chemotherapeutic agents used include adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. The BEACOPP regimen is used for patients in advanced stages. Medications include bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, and prednisone. Combination chemotherapy may have an additive antitumor effect with minimal side effects. Diagnostic tests such as CT and PET scans are used to determine the effectiveness of therapy.

Therapeutic treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy will cause unpleasant side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and pancytopenia are expected side effects of therapy. Administering anti-emetic medications prior to chemotherapy may help reduce nausea. Monitoring the patient's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is critical for early intervention for pancytopenia.

Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma may develop secondary cancers, such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) (refer to the Picmonic on "Leukemia Assessment"). Causes include undergoing transplant surgery and taking immunosuppressive medications. Secondary cancers are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as alkylating agents.