Classic nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma (CNSHL) is a lymphoid neoplasm of germinal center (GC) B cells, presenting with aggregates of follicular dendritic cells (FDC), Hodgkin/Reed Sternberg cells and variants and B cells forming complexes related to the GC. This suggests an association between nodular sclerosis and GC formation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the follicular dendritic cells by immunophenotyping with fascin from lymph node or mediastinal mass biopsies of patients previously diagnosed as having CNSHL, in order to attempt to identify criteria as prognostic factors. Thirty-eight patients were selected. A total of 55.2% were male with a M:F ratio of 1.23:1 and a mean age of 29.3 years. 52.6% were in clinical stage I-II and 68.4% had symptoms B. Thirty-eight biopsy specimens were analysed and 57.9% were nodular sclerosis II. Immunophenotyping showed 100% positivity for CD30 and 68.4% for CD15. The FDC were identified by fascin, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase streptavidin-avidin-biotin indirect immunoenzimatic technique, which was performed on pre-treated slides with the biopsy specimens embedded in paraffin blocks. Fascin was considered to be the gold-standard. The CDF1 pattern was present in 7.9%, CDF2 in 47.4% and CDF3 in 44.7%. There was no association between the presence of the FDC and gender, age, clinical stage, response to treatment, but a tendency for association (p=0.056) between the subtypes of CNSHL. Patients with FDC present in their biopsies were followed up for a longer period of time - about 32.9 months. This enabled a significant statistical association (p=0.001) between the presence of FDC and length of follow-up.
Classic nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma; follicular dendritic cells; immunophenotyping
