[Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells--cell origin, cell marker, cell function]

The controversy in literature with regard to the origin of Hodgkin's and Reed-Sternberg cells persists, however only two conceptions seem to be plausible at present: the first is based on the relation to histiocytic elements, the second postulates lymphocytic precursors. The significance of surface-markers of these malignant cells in cryostat-sections and in cell-cultures and the relevance of their functional properties are discussed with respect to pathophysiology, clinical appearance, diagnosis and prognosis of Hodgkin's disease. The authors present two tendencies in the classification of malignant lymphomas based on the present knowledge achieved especially by monoclonal antibodies: the first includes aspects of integration between non Hodgkin's lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease, illustrated by the Ki-1-lymphoma, the second is related to separation of entities of the group of Hodgkin's lymphomas (for example the nodular paragranuloma). The aetiopathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease is considered as a causal trinity of virus infection, genetic determination and immunologic predisposition.