A pattern-based approach to reactive lymphadenopathies

A crucial task in histopathological examination of enlarged lymph nodes is to discriminate malignant form benign processes. The central importance of this issue is reflected by the fact that benign lymphadenopathies mistaken for lymphomas belong to the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers. In addition, recognition of distinct histopathological patterns of reactive lymph node changes narrow down the potential number of causative agents, especially of those that can be specifically identified by means of often very resource-consuming ancillary techniques; thus, the more precise the differential diagnosis established upon histopathological examination is, the more targetable and efficient the application of these techniques will be. This review provides a synopsis on a histopathological pattern-based approach towards reactive lymphadenopathies.