Clinically-occult mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease with Charcot-Leyden crystals

Charcot-Leyden crystals (CLC) are rarely described in tissue. Because of the derivation of CLC from eosinophils, and the antineoplastic functions that eosinophils effect, it is plausible that CLC in neoplastic tissue specimens may be significant. We recently encountered a case in which Hodgkin's disease and CLC were unexpectedly found. We reviewed 31 cases of Hodgkin's disease for CLC and sought relationships between CLC incidence and morbidity or mortality. While various grades of eosinophilia were represented, CLC were encountered only in the case reported. The role of eosinophils and CLC in Hodgkin's disease is enigmatic. With clinicopathologic correlations from additional patients, it may be determined that CLC play a role in the natural history or prognosis of Hodgkin's disease.