Hodgkin's lymphoma: the pathologist's viewpoint.
Despite its well known histological and clinical features, Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has recently been the object of intense research activity, leading to a better understanding of its phenotype, molecular characteristics, histogenesis, and possible mechanisms of lymphomagenesis. There is complete consensus on the B cell derivation of the tumour in most cases, and on the relevance of Epstein-Barr virus infection and defective cytokinesis in at least a proportion of patients. The REAL/WHO classification recognises a basic distinction between lymphocyte predominance HL (LP-HL) and classic HL (CHL), reflecting the differences in clinical presentation and behaviour, morphology, phenotype, and molecular features. CHL has been classified into four subtypes: lymphocyte rich, nodular sclerosing, with mixed cellularity, and lymphocyte depleted. The borders between CHL and anaplastic large cell lymphoma have become sharper, whereas those between LP-HL and T cell rich B cell lymphoma remain ill defined. Treatments adjusted to the pathobiological characteristics of the tumour in at risk patients have been proposed and are on the way to being applied.
Pileri
S A
SA
Pathologic Anatomy and Haematopathology, Bologna University, Policlinico S. Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. pileri@almadns.unibo.it
Ascani
S
S
Leoncini
L
L
Sabattini
E
E
Zinzani
P L
PL
Piccaluga
P P
PP
Pileri
A
A
Giunti
M
M
Falini
B
B
Bolis
G B
GB
Stein
H
H
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005838:Genotype; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012598:Sclerosis