Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease

Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) is a rare type of B-cell lymphoma with unique pathologic and clinical features that distinguish it from other types of Hodgkin's disease. Patients with LPHD tend to be younger males who present with indolent and asymptomatic lymphadenopathy limited to peripheral lymph nodes. The immunophenotype of the malignant lymphocytic and/or histiocytic cells (CD20+, CD15-, CD30-) forms the basis of the pathologic distinction from the subtypes of classical Hodgkin's disease. Despite an excellent response to aggressive upfront combined-modality treatment, patients with LPHD tend to relapse continuously over decades. The benign nature of these relapses and the incidence of late treatment-related toxicity have raised questions about the need for an aggressive upfront approach. Recent insights into the molecular pathogenesis of LPHD and the development of novel targeted therapies promise to improve future treatment.