SHORT REPORT

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma of the B cell type within a single lymph node: composite lymphoma

M Steinhoff¹, M Hummel², C Assaf¹, I Anagnostopoulos², R Treudler¹, C C Geilen¹, H Stein² and C E Orfanos¹

¹ Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Benjamin Franklin, The Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
² Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Benjamin Franklin, The Free University of Berlin

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M Steinhoff
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Benjamin Franklin, The Free University of Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 60-62, 14195 Berlin, Germany; matthias.steinhoff{at}medizin.fu-berlin.de

Composite lymphomas are defined as two unrelated, morphologically and genetically distinct lymphomas occurring at the same point in time within the same tissue or organ. Since their original definition, several composite lymphomas have been reported exclusively based on morphological grounds. However, with the application of immunhistological and molecular biological techniques it has become evident that many so called "composite" lymphomas do not fulfil the necessary criteria, because they merely represent two different morphological phenotypes of the same malignant clone. This report describes the manifestation of a true composite lymphoma within a single cervical lymph node, which is composed of a cutaneous T cell lymphoma and a classic Hodgkin lymphoma of B cell type—a very rare finding indeed.

Keywords: composite lymphoma; cutaneous T cell lymphoma; classic Hodgkin lymphoma; T cell receptor rearrangement

Abbreviations: BSAP, B cell specific activator protein; cHL, classic Hodgkin lymphoma; CTCL, cutaneous T cell lymphoma; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; HRS, Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; TCR, T cell receptor

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Steinhoff, M, Assaf, C, Anagnostopoulos, I, Geilen, C C, Stein, H, Hummel, M (2006). Three coexisting lymphomas in one patient: genetically related or only a coincidence?. J. Clin. Pathol. 59: 1312-1315 [Abstract] [Full Text]