[Immunohistochemical study of intracellular immunoglobulins in the lymph nodes in malignant lymphomas]

The immunoperoxidase method was employed to assay the content of immunoglobulins in the lymph node cells in 39 patients with malignant lymphoma. It was found that cytoplasmic immunoglobulins were contained in tumor cells in patients with malignant lymphoma of lymphoplasmacytic/-oid cells (LP immunocytoma) and in some patients with malignant lymphoma of centrofollicular cells and immunoblasts. Only one type of the light chain of immunoglobulins was observed in these cells which points to their monoclonal nature. All cases revealed different amounts of polyclonal plasma cells, containing both chi- and lambda-immunoglobulins, in the affected lymph nodes. Paradoxically large numbers of polyclonal plasma cells were observed in the affected lymph nodes of patients with Mycosis Fungoides and T-cell chronic lymphoid leukosis.