Skin window cellularity and macrophage changes in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The cutaneous inflammatory response in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas was investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy and compared with that of healthy subjects at 24 and 48 h. Both groups of patients showed a reduction in overall cellularity and statistically significant differences in macrophage surface morphology. In macrophages from healthy subjects, microvilli predominated but in lymphoma patients, cells with ruffles and/or ridges (resembling blood monocytes) were more frequent. In healthy subjects, the percentage of macrophages with predominant microvilli increased between day 1 and day 2. It is suggested that both the cellular response and the maturation (or activation) of macrophages are impaired in lymphomas.