AITL: Reed-Sternberg like cells

Comments:
In addition to neoplastic T cells, some cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma show large, basophilic blasts that resemble Reed-Sternberg cells and have the characteristic phenotype (CD20+/-, CD30+, CD15+ and EBV+). Several such cells are seen in this image in a background of polymorphic infiltrate, further increasing confusion with Hodgkin lymphoma.

They show clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor genes and an oligoclonal pattern of immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene. The patients are not at a higher risk of progression to classic Hodgkin lymphoma.