J chain and myocyte enhancer factor 2B are useful in differentiating classical Hodgkin lymphoma from nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma

Publication date: Available online 26 August 2017
Source:Human Pathology
Author(s): Erika M. Moore, Steven H. Swerdlow, Sarah E. Gibson
Although most classical Hodgkin lymphomas (CHL) are easily distinguished from nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL), cases with significant CD20 expression cause diagnostic confusion. Although the absence of OCT-2 and BOB.1 are useful in these circumstances, a variable proportion of CHL are positive for these antigens. We investigated the utility of J chain and MEF2B in the diagnosis of CHL, NLPHL, PMBL, T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBL), and B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and CHL (BCLU, DLBCL/CHL) compared to OCT-2 and BOB.1. J chain and MEF2B highlighted lymphocyte predominant (LP) cells in 20/20 (100%) NLPHL and were negative in 43/43 (100%) CHL. 14/15 (93%) PMBL and 4/4 (100%) TCRLBL were MEF2B-positive, while 67% of PMBL and 50% of TCRLBL were J chain-positive. 3/3 BCLU, DLBCL/CHL were negative for J chain and MEF2B. J chain and MEF2B were 100% sensitive and specific for NLPHL versus CHL. MEF2B was 100% sensitive and 98% specific for PMBL versus CHL. Whereas loss of OCT-2 and/or BOB.1 expression had a sensitivity of only 86% and specificity of 100% for CHL versus NLPHL, PMBL, and TCRLBL, lack of both J chain and MEF2B expression was 100% sensitive and 97% specific. J chain and MEF2B are highly sensitive and specific markers of NLPHL versus CHL, are particularly useful in highlighting LP cells, and, with rare exception, are of greater utility than OCT-2 and BOB.1 in differentiating CHL from NLPHL and other large B-cell lymphomas.



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