Abstract

The pathologist faced with the necessity for examining the lymph node biopsy needs certain criteria for the differentiation between primary malignant lymphoma and secondary leukemic infiltration into the lymph node. The distinction is not only of academic interest but also has a practical importance because the management of patient with these two diseases is different. Authors conducted a morphological study on 24 lymph nodes that were diagnosed either as lymphnode involvement by lymphogenous leukemia (Group I ). malignant lymphoma of poorly differentiated lymphocytic type (Group II ) or These lymph node specimens were obtained during a period of 10 years from January 1970 to December 1979 at the Department of Pathology of Seoul National University Hospital. The distinction between two groups was made by clinical and hematological findings. To evaluate these lymph nodes ten items were set beforehand, and the results were tabulated (Table I). In summary there was not a single histological feature that would distinguish these two groups of disease. However, combining the various features listed in table I we could reasonably besure of differentiating one from the other. Reviewing the useful histological findings, paucity of mitosis, monotonous tumor cell population in lymph node with involvement of intranodal veins and infiltrating features suggestive of Indian file, were particularly prominent in leukemic infiltration of lymph nodes as compared to lymph nodes involved by primary malignant lymphoma.