Cytochemistry and Morphology of Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Human Lymph Node Cells with Special Reference to Hodgkin's Disease2

Abstract

A detailed investigation is presented discussing the cytochemistry and morphology of neoplastic and nonneoplastic human lymph node cells. The substances studied by the cytochemical technics include: ribonucleoprotein, desoxyribonucleoprotein, muco-polysaccharides, hyaluronic acid, glycogen, lipid, lipase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase. It has been possible to differentiate cytochemically between various neoplastic and nonneoplastic lymph node cells. Cytochemical differences between cells of normal lymph nodes and modified cells of Hodgkin''s disease, reticulum cell sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, lymphatic leukemia, giant follicular lymphoblastoma and Boeck''s sarcoid are described. Hodgin''s and reticulum cell sarcoma cells have been shown to contain ribonucleoprotein, lipid, mucopolysaccharide, acid and alkaline phosphatase than normal reticulum cells. Normal, leukemic and sarcomatous lymphocytes may be distinguished from each other by cytochemical technics. Some evidence is presented suggesting that cytochemical changes occur prior to discernible morphological differentiation in many human lymph node cells. This investigation suggests that cytochemical technics may prove to be valuable in the differentiation of the lymphoblastomas.