Pulmonary Hodgkin's disease. Diagnosis by fine needle aspiration

The cytologic manifestations of pulmonary Hodgkin's disease in transthoracic fine needle aspirates from 13 patients with pulmonary radiologic abnormalities and a previous diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease are described. Classic Reed-Sternberg cells and lacunar cells were present in most cases. The so-called "mononuclear" Reed-Sternberg cells were identified in all cases. A cellular background consisting of variable numbers of histiocytes, eosinophilic and neutrophilic leukocytes and lymphocytes was frequently present. Such a background should stimulate a search for cells diagnostic of Hodgkin's disease. We conclude that the cytologic features of Hodgkin's disease are not only characteristic, but are also diagnostic, in patients with a prior history of Hodgkin's disease in whom pulmonary recurrence is suspected.