A 35-year-old woman has enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Biopsy shows nodular sclerosis with lacunar cells and a background of eosinophils, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. The tumor cells stain CD15+, CD30+, CD45−. What is the diagnosis?

• A Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma ✓
• B Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• C Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
• D T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma

Explanation

Nodular sclerosis is the most common subtype of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, characterised by collagen bands dividing lymph node into nodules, lacunar cell variants of Reed-Sternberg cells, and a mixed inflammatory background. Classical RS cells and their variants are CD15+, CD30+, and CD45− (unlike non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which are CD45+). ALCL is CD30+ but CD15− and CD45+.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.