Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell (CD30+) lymphoma: distinct entities or nonspecific patterns?

After many years of frustrating discussion concerning the nature of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells and their role in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease, interesting new information has recently been gathered through the use of new technologies. In light of these studies, Hodgkin's disease emerges as a heterogeneous disorder in which some separate new entities may be elucidated, such as nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell CD30+ lymphoma. In this review, we focus on the morphologic, phenotypic, molecular, and clinical features that have served to partially clarify controversial issues.