ABSTRACT
Objective To clarify clinical and morphological features and immunophenotype and Epstain-Barr virus infection of neoplastic cell rich Hodgkin's lymphoma (NCRHL)and to further improve our knowledge and pathological diagnosis for NCRHL. Methods 10 cases of NCRHL were analyzed for clinical features, morphology, immunophenotype, Epstein-Barr virus infection using routine eosin and haematoxylin stain, immunohistochemistry, Epstain-Barr virus encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization and combining clinical data. Results (1)NCRHL were more common in young people. The median age of the patients was 25.5 years old. The ratio of male to female was 1:2.3. Superficial lymph nodes were most frequently involved. Masses of mediastinum were seen commonly. Clinical manifestation of the patients included B symptom (6 cases), pruitus (5 cases) and anemia (1 case). (2)Architecture of lymph nodes were effected. Necrosis was seen in some cases. There were more tumor cells in NCRHL than that in the classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. The tumor cells were distributed in piece or patch or diffuse. The morphology of neoplastic cells was wore variable including Hodgkin-like cells, lacunar cell-like, mummy cell-like and anaplastic large cell-like, singular nucleated cells, and multinucleated giant cell-like cells. Numerous neutrophils and eosinophils were present in a few cases. Focal sheet, necrosis granulomatosis-like and diffuse growth pattern were found in NCRHL. (3)All of the cases were positive for CD30 and PAX-5.2/10 (20%) cases were CD15 positive. LCA, CD20 and CD3 were negative. (4)EBER was not detected in all 6 tested cases. (5)Follow up data was obtained in 8/10 cases, in which one patient was dead, one case relapsed in half a year,and the other 6 cases reached complete regression. Conclusion NRCHL is characterized mainly by neoplastic cell rich morphologically and focal sheet, necrosis granulomatosis-like and diffuse growth pattern.EBER was not detected in this tumor. Some cases have aggressive clinic process with a unfavourable prognosis. New treatment regimen should be explored.