Postvaccinial lymphadenitis.Hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue that simulates malignant lymphomas

Abstract

Nine of 20 cases of postvaccinial lymphadenitis were submitted to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology as representing a malignant lymphoma. Histologically these lymph nodes are characterized by: (1) an increased number of reticular lymphoblasts, imparting a mottled appearance to the lymphoid tissue; (2) a diffuse, follicular or combined diffuse and follicular hyperplasia; (3) vascular and sinusoidal changes; and (4) a mixed cellular response. The reticular lymphoblasts can be misconstrued as Reed‐Sternberg cells. These cells have scant cytoplasm, a large nucleus and one or more acidophilic nudeoli. The histologic changes of these lymph nodes are not pathognomonic because similar changes occur in infectious mononucleosis, herpes zoster and dcrmatopathic lymphadenitis. Significantly, in 14 cases the history of vaccination was overlooked; in 13 cases the lymph node was removed from the left supra‐clavicular region and in 12 cases the patient complained of a mass that caused pain.

Vaccination-induced cutaneous pseudolymphoma

“…However, these latter publications did not provide evidence for the presence of vaccine components among skin lesions, which hampers the ascertainment of the causal role of vaccination and the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of these cutaneous reactions. [20][21][22] In this study, we report the main clinical, histopathologic, and immunopathologic characteristics of 9 patients showing persistent CLH occurring at the site of antihepatitis virus vaccination. We identified aluminium hydroxide among the skin infiltrate in all cases.…”

Haematological features of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia.

“…Even the histo- logical changes may be found singly or in combination in other conditions. A pleomorphic, immunoblastic reaction in lymph nodes may be a feature of drughypersensitivity (Saltzstein and Ackerman, 1959) and post-vaccinial lymphadenitis (Hartsock, 1968). Prominent vascular changes are found in graft versus host reactions (Graham, 1974) and malignant lymphomas of centrocytic type (Lennert et al, 1975).…”

Immunopathology of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy

“…Vascular proliferation is a feature of lymph nodes in infectious mononucleosis (Carter and Penman, 1969) post-vaccinial lymphadenitis (Hartsock, 1968) congenital rubella (Krueger and Konorza, 1977) and in many lymphnodes showing nonspecific reactive hyperplasia. In AIL the arborizing nature of the vascular proliferation (Fig.…”