Unusual clinicopathological features drew our attention to nine of 208 cases diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease. Lymph node biopsy specimens in these cases were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against B-cell, T-cell and Reed-Sternberg cell associated antigens and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Reed-Sternberg-like and other atypical large cells were dispersed in a diffuse, small lymphocyte-rich background, consistent more often with the initial diagnosis of diffuse, lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease. The clinical stage in these cases was unusually advanced (stages III and IV). Splenomegaly was a common feature (six of nine cases), the male to female ratio was 7:2 and the median age was 55 years (range 25-77). Response to recognized regimes for Hodgkin's disease treatment was poor in most cases, and three patients died early of their disease. Large cells were B-lymphocytes expressing EMA--an immunophenotype similar to nodular, lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease. Reed-Sternberg cell and T-cell associated antigens were absent on large cells. Mature T-cells, with nuclear irregularities in some instances, predominated in the background. A more appropriate diagnostic category is, therefore, T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma. The cases represent a 4-5% erroneous diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and further suggest that there is a need for revision of criteria for the diagnosis of the diffuse, lymphocyte predominance variant.