title: Systemic idiopathic fibrosis with T-cell receptor gene rearrangement.
abstract: A case of systemic idiopathic fibrosis was analyzed by Southern blotting with probes to the immunoglobulin heavy chain and T-cell receptor genes. A 45-year-old man presented with bilateral neck swelling. He later developed lower back pain, and findings on a computed tomographic scan were consistent with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. A biopsy specimen of a neck lesion showed morphologic characteristics typical of idiopathic fibrosing cervicitis. Immunophenotyping of the lesion revealed a polymorphic lymphoid population. Molecular analysis with the use of probes to the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes disclosed a germline DNA pattern for the immunoglobulin gene and a rearranged pattern for the T-cell receptor gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7525.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D015342:DNA Probes; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015342:DNA Probes; D004247:DNA