淋巴细胞增生Hyperplasia Lymphocyte · 脾脏 · 免疫系统 · NTP ntp-0036

Comment：
Lymphocyte hyperplasia of the spleen is an increase in the number of lymphocytes outside the range of normal compared with concurrent controls. The result can be variable increases in the area and number of white pulp elements (periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths [PALS], follicles, and/or marginal zones) ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 , arrows). This lesion can be focal or generalized. Lymphocyte hyperplasia in the spleen occurs more frequently in mice than in rats, and female mice are more commonly affected than male mice. Marked lymphocyte hyperplasia can be difficult to distinguish from early lymphoma of the spleen; however, the splenic architecture (white pulp and red pulp compartments) should be maintained with lymphocyte hyperplasia ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), whereas loss of the splenic architecture would be expected with lymphoma. With generalized lymphocyte hyperplasia, there can be confluency of the PALS regions ( Figure 1 ), so cellular morphology should be evaluated to differentiate from lymphoma. Lymphoma consists of monomorphic (or pleomorphic) neoplastic lymphocytes with increased cellular atypia, whereas lymphocyte hyperplasia consists of increased numbers of normal, mature lymphocytes.

Recommendation：
Whenever present, lymphocyte hyperplasia of the spleen should be diagnosed and assigned a severity grade. The number of lymphocytes in the spleen is often variable; therefore, the pathologist must carefully examine and determine the range of normal for a study by comparing with concurrent controls. The plane of section should also be taken into consideration (transverse, longitudinal, tangential, or shallow sections) when evaluating the spleen. Diagnosis should be based upon the pathologist’s best judgment.