17. CLL or SLL infiltration in lymph node

Overview. No follicles, no cortex, no medulla, no sinuses.

Staining: HE

Organ: Lymph node

Description:

It’s obvious that this is a lymph node, however the normal architecture is absent. The lymph node is filled by the tumor cells, which have destroyed the normal structure of the lymph node. The tumor cells themselves show only mild atypia/pleiomorphism. They resemble centrocytes and are therefore centrocytic or centrocytoid.

Diagnosis: Small lymphocytic lymphoma (or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia)

Nice-looking cells.

Risk factors: Not well known

Theory:

CLL/SLL is the most frequent adult leukaemia. Because this slide shows affection of a lymph node, this is most likely SLL (although it could be CLL with lymph node affection as well).