Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with plasma cell neoplasia: cytological features and review of the literature.

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) associated with plasma cell neoplasia is extremely rare. Here, we report one case diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and review the clinical features of 15 previously reported cases. Our specimen was obtained by FNAB of an enlarged right inguinal lymph node. Air-dried Diff-Quik (DQ)-stained slides and alcohol-fixed slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Papanicolaou stains were reviewed. The specimen was cellular, consisting of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a monoclonal (M) plasma-cell population. Admixed large atypical mono- and binucleated cells immunoreactive for CD30 were noted also. A diagnosis of plasma-cell neoplasm associated with classic HL was confirmed histologically after surgical removal of the lymph node. The diagnosis of both HL and plasma-cell neoplasia in the same patient is exceedingly rare. Adding another case to the 15 previously reported cases was unique because our case was diagnosed through FNAB. Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.