title: T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with morphologic and immunologic characteristics of cytotoxic/suppressor phenotype.
abstract: The human cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell subpopulation has characteristic cytoplasmic granules and unique surface antigens that are recognized by OKT8 monoclonal antibody. Using immunocytochemical techniques, we identified three patients with an indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder having morphologic and immunocytochemical characteristics of a cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell phenotype. Review of the literature revealed 22 similar cases, which were frequently associated with neutropenia and anemia. These cases may represent a distinct clinicopathologic entity with an apparently indolent clinical course that differs from other T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, which are generally considered to be more aggressive diseases.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology