Abnormal lymph node mantle zone morphology Non-polarized mantle zones 2023-11-10T19:55:20Z Lack of the typical polarization of the outer ring of small lymphocytes (mantle zone) surrounding a germinal center of a lymph node. Secondary follicles (follicles with germinal centers) typically show mantle zones which are a rim or band of mostly B cells surrounding germinal centers that on H&E appears as densely packed small lymphocytes immediately surrounding germinal centers. The mantle zones typically are thicker (are several rows of lymphocytes extending out from the germinal center) on one side and thinner (only one or very few rows of lymphocytes extending out from the germinal center) on the other side. This polarization is not always obvious but is often seen, and is often lost in some atypical conditions such as lymphomas involving or surrounding germinal centers.