Emperipolesis or Phagocytosis by Reed-Sternberg Cells?

To the Editor: In his letter on leukophagocytosis by Reed–Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease (May 10 issue), Brooks states, “Because these ingested cells were definitely neutrophils, and because they appeared partially digested and nonvital, this appearance was not that of emperipolesis.” However, Brooks’ illustration (Fig. 1 in his letter) of neutrophils (in a nonvital state within a Reed–Sternberg cell) is very much open to question. Furthermore, his implication that emperipolesis is not followed by lymphocyte death and degenerative change is not in accord with a number of other reports.^{1 2 3 4 5} We have recently described in detail the death of lymphocytes in.