Hodgkin's lymphoma classification

Classical
Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (excluding nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's) can be subclassified into 4 pathologic subtypes based upon Reed-Sternberg cell morphology and the composition of the reactive cell infiltrate seen in the lymph node biopsy specimen. Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma (CHL) subtypes:
 * 1) Nodular sclerosing CHL is the most common subtype and is composed of large tumor nodules with lacunar RS cells subtype composed of numerous classic often pleomorphic RS cells with only few reactive lymphocytes which may easily be confused with diffuse large cell lymphoma.
 * 2) Mixed-cellularity subtype is a common subtype and is composed of numerous classic RS cells admixed with numerous inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells.
 * 3) Lymphocyte-rich and
 * 4) lymphocyte depleted are rare subtypes.

Other
Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (NLPHL) is no longer classified as a form of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is due to the fact that the RSC variants (popcorn cells) that characterize this form of the disease invariably express B lymphocyte markers such as CD20 (thus making NLPHL an unusual form of B cell lymphoma), and that (unlike classic HL) NLPHL may progress to diffuse large B cell lymphoma. There are small but clear differences in prognosis between the various forms.

Lymphocyte predominant HL is an uncommon subtype composed of vague nodules of numerous reactive lymphocytes admixed with large popcorn-shaped RSC. Unlike classic RSC, the non-classic popcorn-shaped RS cells of NLPHL are CD15 and CD30 negative while positive for the B cell marker CD20.