Lymphoma Symptoms and Presentation

Common Presenting Symptoms

Painless enlarged lymph nodes are the most common presenting symptom, occurring in over 60% of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) 2
Cervical lymph nodes are most frequently affected, especially in HL 2, 3
Fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss are common symptoms, with weight loss being greater than 10% of body weight over 6 months 1, 2, 3
Fatigue and pruritus (itching) are also common symptoms 1, 3
Alcohol-induced pain (pain in lymph node regions after consuming alcohol) is a symptom in some patients 3
Irritability is a symptom, particularly in pediatric patients 4

Hodgkin lymphoma has a bimodal age distribution with peaks in young adults (20-40 years) and older adults (>55 years) 1, 3

Abdominal involvement can cause abdominal pain, swelling, poor appetite, early satiety, constipation, nausea, and vomiting 4
Thoracic involvement can cause coughing, dyspnea (shortness of breath), wheezing or stridor, chest pain, and reduced physical endurance 4
Head and neck involvement can cause swelling in the neck, jaw, gingival area, or maxilla, difficulty swallowing, choking sensation, and vision changes 4
CNS involvement can cause headaches, bladder or bowel dysfunction, and lower extremity weakness 4

Lymphoma may present with acute complications requiring immediate intervention, including tumor lysis syndrome, superior vena cava syndrome, respiratory compromise, and spinal cord compression 4