title: Cutaneous-type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. A unique clinical feature with monoclonal T-cell proliferation detected by Southern blot analysis.
abstract: A 60-year-old woman suffered from multiple subcutaneous nodules with a self-limited clinical course. High titer of the antibody against the adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL)-associated cell antigen was detected and atypical lymphocytes were present in less than 1% of the peripheral leukocytes. Tumor cells were identified by the molecular biology technique Southern blot analysis, which showed monoclonal cell expansion of the helper/inducer T cells integrated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/adult T-cell leukemia virus. This patient was diagnosed as having the cutaneous type of smoldering ATL in a very early stage. In this case, only gene analysis of the skin lesion could facilitate making an early differential diagnosis of ATL from other lymphoproliferative diseases, including nonviral cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and benign lymphoid hyperplasia.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies