[Specifics of histopathological and genetical diagnosis and classification of lymphomas in children and adolescents].

Malignant lymphoma along with leukemias account for nearly half of all malignancies arising in childhood and adolescence. The correct tissue-based histopathological diagnosis of lymphomas results from a close interdisciplinary exchange between pediatric oncologists and hematopathologists. We describe here relevant features of lymphoma subtypes arising in the young age group, Burkitt lymphoma, precursor/lymphoblastic lymphomas, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma as well as primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma and the rare pediatric follicular lymphomas. Special focus is put on specific diagnostic difficulties as well as new insights into biological features of pediatric lymphomas in comparison with their adult counterpart. In addition the relevance of newly defined lymphoma entities of the WHO-classification 2008, e.g. greyzone lymphomas, will be discussed for the young age group.