A 17-year-old boy is diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. Which of the following laboratory findings is the pathologic hallmark of this disease?

Explanation

•In Hodgkin’s disease, lymphocytes proliferate and special Reed Sternberg cells are found during the microscopic examination of the lymph node tissue.

•Lymphomas are malignancies of the lymphocytes, causing uncontrolled proliferation. Lymphomas usually present as a solid tumor on lymphiod tissue.

•An elevated sedimentation rate may indicate inflammation and is associated with a worse prognosis.

•Liver and thyroid tests are usually ordered to measure extent of disease.

•Philadelphia chromosome is a specific chromosomal abnormality that is found in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

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