title: CD56 (NCAM)-positive malignant lymphoma.
abstract: CD56, a natural killer cell marker reactive with the neuronal-cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), identifies a group of lymphomas with distinctive clinicopathologic features. The disease affects mostly middle-aged adults who often present with fever, skin rash and hepatosplenomegaly in the absence of peripheral lymphadenopathy. Extranodal involvement is common, particularly the skin, aerodigestive tract and central nervous system. Histologically, an angiocentric and angiodestructive pattern of infiltrate is often seen, but the cytological spectrum of the lymphoma cells is very broad. Cytoplasmic granules, however, are frequently found when Giemsa-stained cytologic preparations are examined. Immunologically, CD56-positive lymphomas can be sub-classified into CD3-positive (T-cell) and CD3-negative (probably true natural killer cell) subtypes. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement can be demonstrated in the former cases, but not in the latter. Clinically, CD56-positive lymphomas are aggressive neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins