title: Small lymphocytic lymphoma with Reed Sternberg cells: a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: Reed Sternberg (RS) cells in the setting of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) can complicate the histopathological diagnosis. We report a case of a man aged 54 years who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy. Resection of the lymph node was performed and sent for histopathological evaluation to a local laboratory. A diagnosis of SLL with Classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) was made. The medical oncologist who encountered this diagnosis for the first time sent the biopsy blocks to our laboratory for a second opinion. On review of the biopsy and immunohistochemical stains, it showed typical SLL morphology and immunophenotype. Focally, it showed large mononuclear RS type cells; however, no typical background of CHL was seen. The diagnosis was revised to 'SLL with RS like cells with no convincing evidence of CHL'. The patient was subsequently treated as a case of SLL and no progression was observed on a follow-up of 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shahbaz
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000473:pathology*