[Lymph node lesions simulating a malignant lymphoma]

Examples are reported of lymph node lesions simulating histologically and/or clinically malignant lymphomas. Two main categories of alterations have been distinguished: A. hyperplastic lymph node alterations associated with systemic disease and/or viral or drug-induced lymphadenitis; B. anatomo-clinical entities such as giant lymph node hyperplasia, massive lymphadenopathy with sinus histiocytosis, and angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. It is suggested that in some situations such as angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy the borderline between reactive and enoplastic alterations is not clear cut. To evaluate such changes, close collaboration between the clinician, the hematologist and the patholigist is necessary.