title: The origin of the Sternberg cell.
abstract: The Sternberg cell, the malignant cell of Hodgkin's disease, remains of uncertain nature 80 years after it was first described. Numerous hypotheses have been advanced as to its origin: that it derives from the macrophages, B lymphocyte, T lymphocyte, interdigitating reticulum cell or even from an as yet unidentified cell-line. We here review these various hypotheses, as well as the different techniques used for its study. The morphologic, ultrastructural, histochemical and immunologic studies are discussed in detail.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000473:pathology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology