A 35-year-old woman presents with cervical lymphadenopathy and constitutional symptoms. Biopsy shows large binucleated cells with prominent 'owl-eye' nucleoli, surrounded by a mixed inflammatory infiltrate. The Reed-Sternberg cells are most characteristically positive for which combination of markers?
- A CD20+, CD45+
- B CD15+, CD30+ ✓
- C CD3+, CD4+
- D CD10+, BCL-6+
Correct answer: B. CD15+, CD30+
Explanation
Classic Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin lymphoma characteristically express CD15 (Lewis x antigen) and CD30 (Ki-1) and are negative for CD45 (leukocyte common antigen) and usually negative for CD20. CD20/CD45 positivity suggests a B-cell lymphoma; CD3/CD4 are T-cell markers; CD10/BCL-6 are germinal center markers seen in follicular lymphoma.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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