Which finding is characteristic of Hodgkin lymphoma?

• A. Reed-Sternberg cells with owl-eye appearance
• B. Philadelphia chromosome positive
• C. T(11;14) translocation
• D. Auer rods in blasts

Answer: (A)

In Hodgkin lymphoma, the defining finding is Reed-Sternberg cells, which are large, binucleated B cells with prominent eosinophilic nucleoli that give an owl-eye appearance. These cells sit among a mixed inflammatory background in the lymph node and are the hallmark that sets Hodgkin lymphoma apart from other lymphoid cancers. Immunophenotypically, the malignant cells are typically CD15 and CD30 positive, helping confirm the diagnosis.

Other options point to different diseases: the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL) is associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (and some ALL), the t(11;14) translocation is classic for Mantle Cell Lymphoma, and Auer rods in blasts are seen in acute myeloid leukemia, not Hodgkin lymphoma.