mantle zone mantle zone the mantle zone (or just mantle) of a lymphatic nodule (or lymphatic follicle) is an outer ring of small lymphocytes surrounding a germinal center. mantle zonehistology of a normal secondary lymphoid follicle, with yellow arrows pointing at the mantle zone.anatomical terminology image labeled in german, but "mantel-zone" visible near center. it is also known as the "corona". it contains transient lymphocytes. it is the location of the lymphoma in mantle cell lymphoma. pathology intermediate magnification micrograph of castleman disease showing the characteristic expansion of the mantle zone. h&e stain. mantle zone expansion may be seen in benign, such as castleman disease, and malignancy, i.e., mantle cell lymphoma. tcl-1 is expressed in the mantle zone.