Primary Hodgkin's disease of the stomach

A case of primary Hodgkin's disease of the nodular sclerosis type in the stomach is described. The patient was a 71-year-old woman, who had an ulcerating tumor 4 cm in diameter in the wall of the stomach. The restriction of the disease to the stomach was confirmed by laparotomy and staging examinations, and the patient has been free of any malignancy during a follow-up period, of eight years. Histologically the tumor consisted of fibrous strands between which mostly small lymphocytes but also some plasma cells, eosinophils, lacunar cells, and binucleated Reed-Sternberg cells were seen. The Reed-Sternberg cells were also identified with Leu-M1 and peanut agglutinin-staining. The present case confirms that Hodgkin's disease may--although rarely--arise in the lymphatic tissue of the stomach.