ABSTRACT
Lymph node pathology was analyzed in 37 patients clinically diagnosed as having angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD). Results confirmed AILD in 11 cases and were compatible with AILD in 2 cases. Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia was found in 15 cases, 2 cases had angiofollicular lymphoid hyperplasia or Castleman's disease, atypical lymphoid hyperplasia suggestive of malignant lymphoma was observed in 3 cases, and malignant lymphoma was diagnosed in the remaining 4 cases. The histopathologic features of AILD which differed from reactive lymphoid hyperplasia were effacement of lymph node architecture, vascular arborization, high endothelial venules, and capsular infiltration (p-value < 0.05). Lymphodepletion and PAS-positive interstitial material were occasionally found in both groups (p-value > 0.05). Among the 15 cases with pathology of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, we identified 8 cases with hyperplastic lymphoid follicles, interfollicular plasmacytosis and hypervascularity which we designated as a hyperimmune reaction. This study emphasizes the necessity of lymph node examination in all patients with a clinical suspicion of AILD.