Histochemistry of Malignant Lymphomas: Review of Conventional Histochemical, Enzyme Histochemical, and Argyrophil Nucleolar Organizer Region Stains

Abstract

The “conventional” histochemical and enzyme techniques that can be applied to the diagnosis of malignant lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease, are reviewed. Their historical perspectives are outlined and their value for today is assessed. Many of these conventional methodologies are still useful diagnostic tools, although some, especially enzyme histochemistry, have been replaced by immunohistochemical and gene rearrangement techniques.

The recently popularized argyrophil nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining method and its potential usefulness to lymphoma cell kinetics and prognostication are also described, although there is still much work to be done to increase our understanding of this reaction and its place in lymphoma diagnosis and management. (The J Histotechnol 15:185-197, 1992)

Keywords:

• AgNORs
• enzyme histochemistry
• fibrillar centers
• histochemistry
• Hodgkin's disease
• lymphomas