IMMUNOHISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA IN HEAD AND NECK

Abstract

Enzyme cytochemistry, special histlogical staining and surface marker were investigated in 20 cases of untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (17 Reticulum cell sarcomas and 3 lymphosarcamas).
Histiocytes exhibit a relatively strong and and thus enzyme cytochemical activity of nonspecific esterase. Non-specific esterase activities were hardly observed in tumor cells. The tumor cells were arisen originally from lymphocytes. Immunoglobulin was identified on the surface of neoplastic lymphocytes in 11 of 20 patients. IgG heavy chain was observed in 5 cases, IgA was in 2 cases. IgG and A was in one, and IgM and G was in one case. Two B cell species could be recognized by cell surface marker study. One had C3 receptor and the other had not.
E-rosette formation was oberved in neoplastic lymphocytes in 3 cases. In one case the lymphocytes were identified as B cells. The other two were identified as T cells.
However, neoplastic lymphocytes of 7 cases were termed as Null cells since they showed neither of T or B cell markers.
The Null cell type of neoplastic lymphocytes was thought to have two origins, one was arisen originally from the Null and the other was from T or B cells whose surface marker was lost.