title: B-prolymphocytic leukaemia--a mantle zone lymphoma?
abstract: A case of prolymphocytic lymphoma/leukaemia (PL) sensu Galton in a 32-year-old man is presented. The leucocyte count was 19.0 x 10(9)/1 at presentation and tartrate resistent acid phosphatase was present in most prolymphocytes. Immunological investigation of prolymphocytes from lymph nodes, spleen and peripheral blood revealed the surface marker phenotype: SmIg + (mu, (delta), lambda), IgG-Fc-receptor +, C3-receptor +. The prolymphocytes from lymph nodes and spleen were C3-receptor + in a high percentage, while only a few were IgG-Fc-receptor +. This proportion was reversed in the blood prolymphocytes. The histology of lymph nodes was unique and strongly suggested a preferential involvement (homing phenomenon) of the mantle zone of the lymphatic follicle. These results may indicate that emission of prolymphocytes from lymph nodes to circulation involves a change of surface receptors. It is finally suggested to consider the diagnosis of not only hairy-cell leukaemia but also PL in the case of tartrate resistent acid phosphatase-positive lymphoma/leukaemia.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D000135:Acid Phosphatase