title: Hodgkin's lymphoma as a rare variant of Richter's transformation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Richter's transformation induces an aggressive clinical course in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In the majority of cases, Richter's transformation manifests itself as a high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). However, other histological types, such as classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), lymphoblastic lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia and high-grade T-cell NHL have been described previously. The present study reports a rare case of CLL with transformation into classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). The common clonal origin of CLL and cHL was documented by immunoglobulin gene rearrangement analysis performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Following a review of the literature, treatment of secondary Hodgkin's lymphoma is discussed, and prognosis is often poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, BMT with Section of Pneumology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janjetovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, 23562 Campus Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Wolfram
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bernd
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, BMT with Section of Pneumology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bokemeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, BMT with Section of Pneumology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fiedler
keywords: Richter transformation; chronic lymphocytic leukemia