Hodgkin's disease is a cancer that starts in lymphatic tissue.  Cancers that develop in the lymphatic system are known as lymphomas, therefore Hodgkin?s disease is sometimes referred to as Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Lymphatic tissue includes the lymph nodes and related organs that are part of the body's immune and blood-forming systems.

Hodgkin's disease causes the cells of the lymphatic system to become abnormal. They rapidly enlarge and divide without any order or control. Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin's disease can begin almost anywhere, and subsequently spread throughout the rest of the body. The most common sites, however, are in the chest, neck, or under the arms. Hodgkin's disease enlarges the lymphatic tissue, which can result in pressure on important structures.