Anaplastic large cell lymphoma and its morphological variants

Clinicopathological studies have identified CD30+ ALCL as a clinicopathological entity with heterogeneous morphology and a frequent translocation involving t(2;5), with a better prognosis than most other T cell neoplasms and a different natural history and prognosis than Hodgkin's disease. Because of the different natural history and prognosis of CD30+ ALCL, it is important to recognize this entity and its morphological variants. Further studies are indicated to determine whether specific clinical management(s) and therapies are necessary for variants of ALCL such as HD like ALCL and the small cell predominant type.