Even with appropriate tissue samples, it is important to note that
Reed-Sternberg cells only represent a small proportion of the cells in adequate biopsy specimens.
(8,9) How a rising CD4 count increases the risk of HL is unknown, but it is hypothesized that CD4 cells are recruited to
Reed-Sternberg cells, and within this microenvironment, CD4 cells secrete growth factors that promote the proliferation and expansion of
Reed-Sternberg cells.
Nevertheless, the confirmation of HL requires morphologic diagnosis of the neoplastic cells with the appropriate cellular background along with the result of immunophenotyping as cells resembling
Reed-Sternberg cells can be found in cases of B and T lymphomas, melanomas, sarcoma, and in some reactive conditions such as infectious mononucleosis, which are common in populations across the globe (6).
Hodgkin and
Reed-Sternberg cells represent an expansion of a single clone originating from a germinal center B-cell with functional immunoglobulin gene rearrangements but defective immunoglobulin transcription.
Miyazato et al., "Expression of CCL28 by
Reed-Sternberg cells defines a major subtype of classical Hodgkin's disease with frequent infiltration of eosinophils and/or plasma cells," American Journal of Pathology, vol.
However, those cells that have an imbalance in pro-and anti-apoptotic proteins ratio could represent a transforming event rescuing pre-apoptotic GC B cells from apoptotic stimuli and finally could give rise to Hodgkin and
Reed-Sternberg cells. They described bcl-2 and bak cytoplasmic expression in 83.3 and 92 per cent of the cases together with p53 nuclear expression 89.9 per cent of the cases.
These two markers are also commonly expressed by the
Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, but are uncommonly present in other forms of DLBCL.
In Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, a pathologic evaluation of ovarian tissue can detect
Reed-Sternberg cells.
Indeed, EBV is suspected of playing a causative role in Hodgkin's lymphoma: as many as 70% of
Reed-Sternberg cells are EBV-positive in HIV-infected patients, whereas, only about one-third of these malignancies in the general population are EBV-positive (26) (see Table).
Prominent features are scattered giant cells resembling
Reed-Sternberg cells or virocytes with bizarre, vesicular nuclei, and macronucleoli.
The diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma in lung is based on the recognition of diagnostic
Reed-Sternberg cells with reactive cellular infiltrate in the background.