Lymphoglandular bodies in malignant tumors: with special reference to histologic specimens

Abstract

Lymphoglandular bodies (LGBs) have been described as cytoplasmic fragments of lymphocytes and a specific feature of organized lymphoid tissue. The recognition of LGBs is useful in distinguishing malignant lymphomas from carcinomas and sarcomas in cytology specimens, especially in Giemsa-stained tissues. So far, there has been no description of LGBs in hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained histologic specimens in the literature. Therefore, we evaluated LGBs in HE sections, especially regarding malignant tumors. We reviewed 110 biopsy and surgical materials including malignant lymphoma, carcinoma, and other malignant tumors and evaluated the frequency, number, size, and significance of LGBs. We also performed the terminal deoxyribosyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method on LGBs. Lymphoglandular bodies were found in about 40% of cases with malignant lymphoma, whereas only 3 (3.8%) nonlymphoma cases showed LGBs. These were undifferentiated carcinoma, seminoma, and multiple myeloma. The size of LGBs was usually less than half the size of a red blood cell. No apoptotic cells were detected in any of the cases by TUNEL method regarding LGBs. Our study suggests that LGBs can be found in HE sections. As observed in cytologic specimens in the literature, the presence of LGBs around cytologically malignant cells favors a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma rather than nonlymphoma malignancies, even in HE histologic sections.