Swollen Lymph Node - Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have swollen lymph nodes on my neck (right behind the ear) The right node is more swollen and really firm. It hurts very much. Also I notices there are little balls on the lymph really firm and hurtful. I also have other symptoms like: extreme night sweets, fatigue, pruritus, loss of appetite, a lot of headache. Also I have pimples on my skin full of blood. They are like blood pimples or something like that.. Should I be afraid of Hodgkin's lymphoma??? Please write back, it's really important and urgent because I feel like I'm going to faint every moment... Please, please write back really soon so I would know what to do... Thanks in advance

Dear Jasna: Hodgkin's lymphoma is a lymphoid malignancy involving the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow. Hodgkin's lymphoma often presents as a painless swollen lymph node. The other constitutional symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats. These symptoms are present in 40% of cases.

Though your swollen lymph node may be due Hodgkin's lymphoma, other conditions like infectious mononucleosis, tuberculosis, SLE and toxoplasmosis needs to be rules out. The diagnosis of hodgkin;s lymphoma will depend on blood studies like complete blood count, ESR, bone marrow biopsies and CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis.