HODGKINS-DISEASE, MIXED CELLULARITY TYPE, WITH A B-CELL IMMUNOPHENOTYPE - REPORT OF A CASE AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

The origin of the Reed-Sternberg cell, the neoplastic cell of Hodgkin' s disease, has not been defined. We evaluated a case of Hodgkin's dise ase, mixed cellularity type, which presented in the retroperitoneum of a 45-year-old woman. Reed-Sternberg cells and Hodgkin's cells express ed the characteristic markers CD15 and CD30. In addition, they express ed the B-cell antigens CD19 and CD20, as well as CD45/leukocyte common antigen. Clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was detected by Southern blot analysis. These results suggest that som e cases of Hodgkin's disease ave derived from an activated cell of lym phoid origin. This case documents a close relationship between Hodgkin 's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and it demonstrates that even w hen newer ancillary techniques are employed these two entities can hav e overlapping features.