[Enzyme- and immuno-histochemical study of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Enzyme-and immuno-histochemical methods were applied to 19 childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. According to the LSG classification, all lymphomas were of the diffuse type and comprised of 4 cases of the medium-sized cell type, 1 the mixed cell type, 3 the large cell type, 3 the Burkitt type and 8 the lymphoblastic type. Immunoperoxidase stains for the leukocyte common antigen on paraffin sections were positive in all 19 lymphomas while they were negative in all 6 childhood solid tumors. Surface and/or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin restricted to one light chain was demonstrated in 1 medium cell type and 3 Burkitt type lymphomas. Prolonged incubation of paraffin sections produced positive paranuclear ACP and ANAE reactions in 1 medium-sized cell type, 2 large cell and 4 lymphoblastic type lymphomas. Immunoperoxidase stains using monoclonal antibodies on fresh tissue imprints and frozen sections revealed appropriate surface markers for phenotyping individual lymphomas studied. In conclusion, the application of enzyme-and immuno-histochemical techniques helped to establish the diagnosis with a biologically meaningful subclassification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children.