PANCE Precision Practice Exam

Pel-Ebstein fever is a cyclical fever pattern that is classically described with Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients experience a febrile period lasting several days, followed by a span of normal temperature, then a return of fever, creating an alternating pattern. This kind of cyclical fever is a well-recognized but not universal feature that has historically helped distinguish Hodgkin lymphoma as it reflects the disease’s systemic activity and cytokine milieu along with other B symptoms such as night sweats and weight loss. Alcohol-induced lymph node pain isn’t reliably observed and isn’t considered a defining feature. Reed-Sternberg cells are the hallmark malignant cells in Hodgkin lymphoma, so saying they’re absent would contradict the diagnosis. EBV association occurs in some subtypes but isn’t present in all cases, so it’s not a universal classic feature.