Reed-Sternberg cells are diagnostic for which clinical condition?

Reed-Sternberg cells are a distinctive type of giant cell that is considered a hallmark of Hodgkin's disease, also known as Hodgkin lymphoma. These cells are derived from B lymphocytes and are characterized by their large size and abnormal nuclei, often appearing binucleated or multinucleated. The presence of these cells in lymphatic tissue is a key diagnostic feature that helps pathologists confirm the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma during histological examination.

In contrast, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not have Reed-Sternberg cells as a feature, and other leukemias like acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia are characterized by different types of abnormal cells, making their diagnosis distinct from that of Hodgkin's disease. Thus, the identification of Reed-Sternberg cells specifically correlates to Hodgkin's disease, cementing the link between these cells and the condition they help to define.