Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

SUMMARY:
BACKGROUND:
Hodgkin disease is a lymphoid tumor that accounts for less than (1%) of all DeNovo neoplasms occurring every year worldwide.
OBJECTIVE:
The aims of the study was to assess the expression of immunohistochemical markers namely (CD20,CD15) in malignant cells of Hodgkin's disease.
METHODS:
Over the period extending from (January 2006-March 2008), specimens form 31 cases of lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma (Rye's classification) as formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks from excisional lymph node biopsies. For each case, five representative sections were prepared. One stained with hematoxyline and eosine (HxE), and four other sections (on positively charged slides) prepared for IHC procedures using CD15, and CD20. For the evaluation of markers expression, a semiquantitative evaluation system was used to register the staining intensity and the numbers of positive cells.
RESULTS:
The most common site of lymph node biopsy was the cervical lymph node in (61.2%) of cases. Immunohistochemically, CD20 was expressed in (12.9%) of cases, while CD15 was expressed in (77.4%) of cases.
CONCLUSION:
This study has shown that HD with a nodular growth pattern and a lymphocyte-rich background encompasses 2 entities with distinct morphologic, phenotypical features. Therefore, the precise classification of such case requires a combination of conventional histology and immunohistology with distinct panel of antibodies.