title: A practical approach to the understanding and diagnosis of lymphoma: an assessment of the WHO classification based on immunoarchitecture and immuno-ontogenic principles.
abstract: This review aims to interrelate the major lymphoma types in the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification to construct a framework for understanding and diagnostic application. Multiple morphological, phenotypical and molecular genotypical data are assessed in order to categorise lymphomas into germinal centre (GC) and extracentric (EC) subgroups. GC entities [lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin, follicular, Burkitt's, angioimmunoblastic T-cell and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with GC profile] express bcl-6, CD10 and/or the GC-homing chemokine CXCL13, and harbour ongoing somatic hypermutations (SHM), but not Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in its higher latency states. Post-GC entities [classical Hodgkin, marginal zone and lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas, half of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), DLBCL with 'activated' or post-GC profile, primary effusion lymphoma, plasmacytoma and myeloma] express, instead, MUM.1 and/or CD138, harbour static rather than ongoing SHM, and may harbour EBV in higher latency states. The remainder of CLL/SLL and the majority of mantle cell lymphoma without SHM constitute the pre-GC ('naive') category, with coexpression of IgD and CD5. Lymphomas can be categorised across lineage (B- or T-cell) and relationship against host immune response (Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin) into GC and EC groups, affording leverage in their differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. leonard.tan.h.c@sgh.com.sg
authors.forename: Leonard Hwan Cheong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D014944:World Health Organization