OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE SPECIFIC POST‐CAPILLARY VENULES OF LYMPH NODES IN MALIGNANT LYMPHOMAS

The prevalence of postcapillary venules with high endothelium cells (HE venules) in lymph nodes was studied in biopsy specimens from 18 cases of malignant lymphoma. HE venules were found to be absent in non‐leukaemic lymphocytic and lymphoblastic lymphomas, usually absent but in some cases even abundant in chronic lymphatic leukaemia and finally present and often conspicuous in the specific tissue of Hodkin's disease (lymphocyte predominance, mixed cellularity and nodular sclerosis). In a discussion of the observation it is noted that it can still not be taken for granted that HE venules serve the immigration of recirculating lymphocytes to the lymphatic parenchyma and that the biology of these curious vessels remains to be settled.