NODULAR LYMPHOCYTE PREDOMINANCE HODGKINS-DISEASE FEATURING BLOOD ATYPICAL POLYCLONAL B-CELL LYMPHOCYTOSIS

The nodular lymphocyte predominance form of Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) is considered as a B cell derived lymphoproliferative disease. A patie nt with NLPHD presented with an absolute increase in blood B cells wit h cytological features of mantle zone cells; these B cells were polycl onal, did not exhibit bcl-2 gene rearrangement, and some of them displ ayed non-clonal chromosomal aberrations. EB virus genome was not detec ted by Southern analysis. Thus, this study. taking advantage of the pr esence of an unusual population of blood atypical B cells. confirms da ta obtained on lymph nodes where, however, malignant cells may be scar ce. indicating that NLPHD is a polyclonal B cell lymphoproliferative d isease of mantle zone origin.