Warthin-Finkeldey-like cells in benign and malignant lymphoid proliferations

Multinucleate giant cells resembling Warthin-Finkeldey cells have been described in various lymphoid disorders. These Warthin-Finkeldey-like cells (WFLC) with as many as 50 nuclei are of three main types: reticular, lymphocyte and intermediary. In reactive lymphoid proliferations (34 cases) WFLC were mainly observed inside germinal centres and to a lesser extent in the interfollicular zones. In neoplastic lymphoid proliferations (33 cases) WFLC were most commonly found in the lymphocytic predominance type of Hodgkin's disease (16/25 cases). All non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (13 cases) in which WFLC were detected proved to be of low grade malignancy (lymphocytic: one case, lymphoplasmacytic-plasmacytoid: six cases; and centroblastic-centrocytic, six cases). They were also found in two cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. Immunoperoxidase and electron microscopic studies could not elucidate the exact histogenesis of these cells, but it is assumed that they are associated with B cell proliferations.