| Classic HL | NLPHL | |
| Pattern | Diffuse, interfollicular, nodular | Nodular, at least in part |
| Tumor cells | Diagnostic RS cells; mononuclear or lacunar cells | "L&H" or "popcorn" cells |
| Background | Lymphocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, plasma cells | Lymphocytes, histiocytes |
| Fibrosis | Common | Rare |
| CD15 | + | - |
| CD30 | + | - |
| CD20 | -/+ | + |
| CD45 | - | + |
| EMA | - | + |
| EBV (in RS cells) | + (∼50%) | - |
| Oct2 | -/+ | + |
| BOB.1 | -/+ | + |
| Background lymphocytes | T cells > B cells | B cells > T cells |
| CD57+ Tcells | - | + |
| Ig genes (single-cell PCR) | Rearranged, clonal, mutated, "crippled", no ongoing somatic hypermutation | Rearranged, clonal, mutated, productive, ongoing somatic hypermutation |
