Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopical findings in relation to lightmicroscopy A study of 74 cases

Abstract

From 74 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), fresh biopsy material from involved tissue was investigated histochemically and by light and electron microscopy. The results were compared with the light microscopical conclusions based on three currently utilized classifications, namely of Rappaport, Lukes, and Lennert. The separate groups of low-grade NHL appeared to consist of homogeneous cell populations, both in immunohistological as well as in enzymehistochemical and electron microscopical sense. On the contrary, high-grade NHL constituted a heterogeneous group in which supplementary (immunohistochemical, enzymehistochemical, and electron microscopical) investigation is very useful. All NHLs reacted with anti-human lymphocyte serum, including the so-called histiocytic NHLs according to the Rappaport classification, which proves their lymphocytic origin. Consequently the prefix "histiocytic" should be altered in a morphogenetically correct way. Without exception the B-cell NHLs were characterized by the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulin on the cell membrane and/or intracytoplasmically. In a part of the immunologically non-T-/non-B-/("null cell") NHLs, a B-cell origin was indicated by the presence of ATPase and/or 5' nucleotidase and a T-cell origin by the presence of dot-like acid phosphatase.

In situ immunologic characterization of follicular lymphomas

“…The findings obtained in this study, with immunofluorescence using conventional antisera, confirmed those previously reported either with immunofluorescence Levy, 1978, 1981;Van Heerde et al, 1980) or with the immunoperoxidase technique Stein et al, 1980Stein et al, , 1982bTubbs et al, 1981). Therefore, monotypic slg, as well as C 3 and Fe receptors (Jaffe et al, 1974(Jaffe et al, , 1975Pinkus and Said, 1978;Stein et al, 1978) can be readily demonstrated on frozen section.…”

“…Therefore, monotypic slg, as well as C 3 and Fe receptors (Jaffe et al, 1974(Jaffe et al, , 1975Pinkus and Said, 1978;Stein et al, 1978) can be readily demonstrated on frozen section. These results, such as demonstrated in our study, do not rely upon the type of method and IgM heavy chain is the most common Levy, 1978, 1981;Van Heerde et al, 1980;Tubbs et aI., 1981), followed by IgG heavy chain (Van Heerde et al, 1980;Warnke and Levy, 1981;. By contrast, follicular lymphomas expressing slgA have been rarely reported .…”

Immune marker expression in 53 lymphomas of high‐grade malignancy

“…A considerable variation in frequency of the non-expressive lymphomas is revealed from Table 7. In three studies half or more cases were of 0-type (van Heerde et al 1980, Warnke et al 1980, Rudders et al 1981. On the other hand, a remarkably similar distribution in major immune phenotypes appears from the studies of Braylan et al (1977), Habeshaw et al (I979), and the present indicating frequencies of 60-65% B type, 20% T type and 15-20% 0 type in lymphomas of high-grade malignancy.…”

“…These pose a permanent diagnostic challenge to the histologist. In some previous marker studies, however, half or more of these lymphomas were apparently non-expressive (van Heerde et al 1980, Warnke et al 1980, Rudders, Ah1 & DeLellis 1981.…”

“…The lymphomas were classified according to the Kiel classification (GCrard-Marchant et al 1974, Lennert et al 1978 since it was considered the most appropriate with regard to both clinical utility and research purposes (Habeshaw et al 1979, van Heerde et al 1980. However, to meet our own requirements, we extended the Kiel classification to include two additional entities : the anaplastic ceiztrocytic lymphoma and the pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma.…”