engleski

Cytology and flow cytometry of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Aim was to present angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT). According to WHO classification it is a peripheral T-cell lymphoma characterised by systemic disease, a polymorphous inflitrate involving lymph nodes with a prominent proliferation of high endothelial venules and follicular dendritic cells. It is usually a challenge for cytologists due to its heterogeneity and morphological similarity to reactive lymphadenopathia. 63-years old male suffered from generalised limphadenopathia, rash, dysproteinaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. Fine needle aspiration cytology of nodes on the neck and arm was performed. One part was used for cytological analysis and another one for DNA analysis and immunophenotyping by flow-cytometry. The smears consists of lots of mixed polymorphic cells: immunoblasts, plasma cells, eosinophilic granulocytes, histiocytes, endothelial cells, mastocytes and small to medium-sized lymphocytes with clear to pale cytoplasm and distinct cell membranes and minimal cytological atypia or reactive lymphocytes. DNA analysis done by flow cytometry showed aneuploidy with high proliferation, and immunophenotyping showed high CD5, CD3, CD2, CD10 and HLA-DR. Bone marrow aspirate was inflitrated by the same population of cells detected in lymph nodes' aspirates. Cytological diagnosis of possible AILT was established and confirmed by histopathology. The patient has been treated for 7 years in Germany because of lymphogranulomatosis X before arriving to our hospital. In our hospital he got chemotherapy and enlarged lymph nodes were cured. Despite that after 17 months the patient died in IV B stage of the disease. Cytology with flow cytometry and clinical data can put the exact diagnosis and follow-up of angioimmunoblastic lymphoma.

angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma; cytopathology; flow-cytometry

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2303.2011.00911.x