Our Hodgkin Lymphoma Program is led by pediatric experts in hematology oncology, radiology, pathology, and radiation oncology. We evaluate, diagnose, and treat children with all forms of Hodgkin lymphoma and related disorders.
About the Program
Children with newly diagnosed and recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma are treated through Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's Hodgkin Lymphoma Program. Our program is led by pediatric experts in hematology oncology, radiology, pathology and radiation oncology.
Through our program, your child will be treated by some of the world’s most experienced pediatric oncologists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and internationally recognized pediatric subspecialists at Boston Children’s Hospital.
- All members of our team — which includes pediatric oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, interventional and diagnostic radiologists and hematopathologists — have specific expertise in pediatric lymphomas.
- We offer comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and consultation services for children and adolescents.
- We also provide access to multiple clinical trials investigating new treatment approaches, as well as complex therapies like stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.
- Our center offers a long-term care program especially designed for survivors of childhood cancer.
Our Treatment Approach
The Hodgkin Lymphoma Program combines the expertise of both Boston Children's Hospital, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a national leader in cancer care.
Our multidisciplinary care team is made up of specialists with specific expertise in pediatric lymphomas, including:
- oncologists
- radiation oncologists
- surgeons
- interventional and diagnostic radiologists
- hematopathologists
We evaluate, diagnose and treat children with all forms of Hodgkin lymphoma and related disorders. We also provide consultation services and long-term follow-up for pediatric and adolescent patients.
Diagnosis, treatment and care
If your child has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, you probably have a lot of questions about treatment and care options. Our program offers the latest treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma and our researchers work continuously to develop and refine therapies. We offer:
- advanced radiologic imaging, including PET scans, MRI, CT and bone scans
- biopsy via minimally invasive surgery such as thoracoscopy or open surgery as appropriate to your child’s condition
- pathologic diagnosis with access to specialized services, such as classical cytogenetics, FISH, molecular techniques such as PCR and flow cytometry
- access to most current research studies via the Children's Oncology Group, a national research consortium and a national collaborative focused solely on pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma
- individualized treatment plans tailored to your child’s needs
- access to experimental therapies for recurrent or refractory lymphoma
- a Pediatric Advanced Care Team with expertise in palliative care and symptom management
We offer comprehensive multidisciplinary consultation services to physicians and families at the time of diagnosis, on therapy, at relapse, and in follow-up.
Other services we provide include:
- alternative medicine consultation and treatment integrated into the comprehensive care plan
- a designated resource specialist to help families apply for assistance from cancer-related organizations and relevant federal and local programs
- Ronald McDonald House for short-term lodging
- pediatric psychologists and social workers available for patients, siblings and parents
- medical ethics consultation
- an integrated relationship with other adult and pediatric subspecialty physicians and services such as cardiology, pulmonary, endocrinology, reproductive and gynecologic services, neurology, anesthesia, dermatology, nutrition, and physical therapy
- infectious disease physicians who specialize in the care of cancer patients
- a school re-entry program
Survivorship and long-term care
Like all patients who were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation, survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma may be at risk of developing health problems later in life. It is particularly important for childhood Hodgkin lymphoma survivors who receive radiation to the torso area as part of their cancer treatment to be screened for late effects, including breast cancer and cardiac complications.
To help patients monitor their overall health after treatment is completed, we encourage children and adolescents to continue long-term care through Dana-Farber's David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic.
The Treatment Team
At the Hodgkin Lymphoma Program, we have a staff of compassionate and experienced pediatric subspecialists that includes oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and surgeons.
Our physicians are focused on family-centered care. From your first visit, you’ll work with a team of professionals who are committed to supporting all of your family’s physical and psychosocial needs.
- Amy L. Billett, MD
Billett is a pediatric oncologist and has worked at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s for more than 20 years. She specializes in the treatment of lymphomas, including Hodgkin disease, Non-Hodgkin disease and Burkitt’s lymphoma. She also oversees patient safety and quality for the Division of Hematology and Oncology. She is an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
- Kirsten Ecklund, MD
Ecklund has worked at Boston Children’s Hospital since 1994. A pediatric radiologist who specializes in diagnostic radiology and pediatric musculoskeletal radiology, she holds the vice chair of Diagnostic Radiology and the Chief of the Division of Diagnostic Radiology. She is also an assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.
- Mark Daniel Fleming, MD, DPhil
Fleming is a hematopathologist and Boston Children’s Hospital’s pathologist-in-chief. He specializes in the diagnosis of cancers of the blood and lymph systems. His research focuses on iron metabolism in the blood. He is also an Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.
- Frederick D. Grant, MD
Grant is a radiologist specializing in nuclear medicine and molecule imaging. His research focuses on applications of nuclear medicine to pediatric oncology. He is also an instructor in radiology at Harvard Medical School.
- Karen J. Marcus, MD
Marcus specializes in pediatric oncology and radiation oncology. She treats children with a wide variety of cancers, including brain tumors, sarcomas, neuroblastoma, leukemias, kidney tumors, and Hodgkin lymphoma. She’s an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and co-chair of Pediatric Oncology Institutional Review Board.
- Robert C. Shamberger, MD
Shamberger is Boston Children’s Hospital’s Chief of Surgery and has expertise in surgical oncology. He is a professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on the treatment of neuroblastoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, Wilms’ tumor and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Stephan D. Voss, MD, PhD
Voss is a staff radiologist and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital. His research focuses on developing new methods for imaging malignant disease, specifically pediatric neuroblastoma. In addition, he is an assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.
- Christopher Weldon, MD, PhD
Weldon is a pediatric general surgeon with expertise in pediatric oncology and surgical critical care. His research focuses on chemotherapy resistance in solid tumors. He is also an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Clinical Research
Thanks to advances in research and care, the outcomes for children with Hodgkin lymphoma have improved dramatically in recent decades. Today, the majority of pediatric Hodgkin patients can expect to be cured of their disease. We are dedicated to improving therapies further by reducing the toxicity and long-term side effects of treatment.
Research and clinical trials
It’s possible that your child will be eligible to participate in one of our current clinical trials. These studies are useful for many reasons: some trials are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular drug, treatment, or therapy on a specific disease; others help doctors to better understand how and why certain conditions occur. At any given time, we have hundreds of clinical trials underway.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a founding member of a small national consortium of leading medical centers that investigates new treatments for children with Hodgkin lymphoma. Through this consortium, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's physicians are investigating new drug combinations that deliver results with fewer long-term complications.
In addition, we offer access to all Children's Oncology Group's Phase I clinical trials and other trials for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.
Contact Us
Referring physicians: 617-632-5508 or 1-888-Pedi-Onc (733-4662)
New patients and second opinions
We understand a cancer diagnosis is extremely difficult to cope with. We are available to offer a consultation or second opinion for your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, please contact our program at 888-PEDI-ONC (888-733-4662).
To help us conduct a precise evaluation, it’s important we receive a full summary of your child's initial diagnosis. This includes any laboratory or pathology reports, any x-ray, radiographic or MRI images and a list of any previous treatments your child may have received. We will work with you and any other treating physicians to obtain the necessary information prior to the visit, including:
Patient summary
- your child’s date of birth
- your address
- parent or guardian contact information
- insurance information
Complete clinical summary
- physician's name and contact information
- diagnosis, or working diagnosis, and list of presenting symptoms
- MRI/CAT scan films
- pathology slides and reports
- operative note, if surgery was performed
- radiation therapeutic summary, if your child had radiation
- comprehensive list of previous chemotherapeutic agents, with dates and doses, if your child had chemotherapy
Mailing addresses
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215