EM: A 25-year-old male visits the doctor after experiencing…

EM: A 25-year-old male visits the doctor after experiencing a persistent fever, fatigue, and excessive sweating while sleeping. The patient has lost over 35 pounds since his last annual visit 8 months ago without attempting to lose weight. During the physical, the doctor discovers swelling in the lymph nodes around his armpits and neck. The doctor orders a blood test and when observing a sample under the microscope, identifies Reed-Sternberg cells present in the patient’s blood. What do these cells signify?