Clonal analysis of three morphologically distinct lymphomas occurring in the same patient.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether three morphologically distinct lymphomas (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, monocytoid B cell lymphoma, and large cell anaplastic lymphoma), which occurred in the same patient, were in fact three morphological variants of the same lymphoproliferative process.


METHODS
Previously described methods of clonal analysis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine the pattern of rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and the T cell receptor beta and T cell receptor gamma chain genes in the three lymphomas.


RESULTS
All three morphological entities had identical patterns of gene rearrangements.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding confirms the association between MALT lymphoma and monocytoid B cell lymphoma, and also provides evidence that large cell anaplastic lymphoma may not only arise de novo but may also be an end stage morphological picture in lymphoma progression.
McCormick
C
C
Department of Histopathology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
Philp
E
E
Mansi
J
J
Livni
N
N
McCarthy
K
K
D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics*; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*