[Physiopathology of Hodgkin's disease]

Reed-Sternberg cell, the neoplastic component of Hodgkin's disease, still remains "intriguante". Despite contreversies, there is more and more evidence for a lymphoid B cell origin of Hodgkin's disease. The role of Epstein-Barr virus, cytokines and (or) oncogenes expression in the pathogeny can be suggested, although the precise mechanisms leading to transformation and (or) accounting for tumour progression are still elusive. Advances in the biology of Hodgkin's disease have led to the distinction between two entities, "classical" Hodgkin's disease and Poppema's paragranuloma, with different clinical aspects. The definition of diagnostic criteria has been also helpful to separate Hodgkin's disease from other lymphomas mimicking Hodgkin's disease such as anaplastic large cell lymphomas?