Table 2.

Differential diagnosis between T cell rich, large B cell lymphoma (TCRBCL), lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (LP-HL), and common Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL)

Diagnostic criteria	TCRBCL	LP-HL Nodular/diffuse	CHL
Neoplastic component
Cell distribution	Dispersed	Within the nodules	Dispersed
L&H/L&H-like cells	−/+	+/−	−
RS/RS-like cells	−/+	−/+	−
CD45 expression	+	+	−
CD30 expression	−*	−*	+
CD15 expression	−	−	+/−
CD79a expression	+/−	−/+	−/+ Variable
CD20 expression	+†	+†	−/+ Variable
BOB.1 expression	+	+	−
Oct2 expression	+‡	+‡	Rare
CD3 expression	−	−	−/+
EMA expression	+/−	+/−	Rare
J chain expression	+/−	+/−	−
MIB-1/Ki-67 expression	High	High	High
EBV	−	−	+ Variable
Ig gene rearrangement	+	+	+§
Reactive component
T cells	Numerous	Moderate	Variable
T cells with irregular nuclear profile	+/−	−	−/+
Bcl-6+/CD57+ rosettes	−	Numerous	−
Amount of TIA-1+ cells	Very high	Low	High
Amount of CD20+ small lymphocytes	Low	High	Low
Histiocytes	Variable	Some	Variable
FDC	−	+	+
Clinical findings
Stage	III/IV	I/II	I/III
Bone marrow involvement	+/−	−	−
Orderly progression in the spread	−	−	+

EMA, epithelial membrane antigen; FDC, follicular dendritic cells; L/H, lymphocytic/histiocytic (popcorn); RS, Reed Sternberg.

*Weakly positive in some instances; †negative in rare instances; ‡usually overexpressed; §in 1–2% of the cases T cell receptor gene rearrangement.