Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type: a clinicopathological study of six cases.

Abstract

AIMS:

To investigate the clinicopathological features of six unusual cases of nodal CD56+ and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma, a putative nodal counterpart of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type) in comparison with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma with secondary lymph node involvement (n = 24) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of cytotoxic molecule (CTM)+ and EBV+ type (n = 21).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

All cases of nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type exhibited diffuse infiltration of pleomorphic medium-sized to large tumour cells, reminiscent of those in CTM+ EBV+ PTCL. The tumour cells had a typical phenotype of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: CD2+, CD3epsilon+, CD4-, CD5-, CD56+, T-cell intracellular antigen-1+, granzyme B+, perforin+ and EBV+. However, four of six cases demonstrated clonal T-cell receptor gamma-gene rearrangement on polymerase chain reaction analysis, unlike nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Comparison of clinical parameters and overall survival among the three groups demonstrated only minor differences.

CONCLUSIONS:

Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma may occupy the grey zone between extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma and nodal CTM+ PTCL in a spectrum of NK to T-cell lymphomas that are EBV+. The close relationship between NK/T-cell lymphomas and cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas was also substantiated.

• Authors: E Takahashi, N Asano, C Li, T Tanaka, K Shimada, S Shimada, T Yoshino, M Kojima, K Hara, T Eimoto, S Nakamura
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 52 Issue 5 Pg. 585-96 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1365-2559 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18370955 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Neoplasm
• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• DNA, Neoplasm (analysis)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (metabolism, pathology)
• Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte (genetics)
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Killer Cells, Natural (metabolism, pathology, virology)
• Lymph Nodes (metabolism, pathology, virology)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral (etiology, mortality, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nose Neoplasms (etiology, mortality, pathology)
• RNA, Viral (analysis)
• Survival Rate
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (metabolism, pathology, virology)