Clinical features of CD30 (Ki-1) positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). Review of the literature.
CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), also known as Ki-1 lymphoma, was first described in 1985 as a new histological subtype, and was added to the updated Kiel classification in 1988. It is regarded as a process of high-grade malignancy, mainly on histological grounds. This review describes clinical features in 255 patients. There is a bimodal age distribution, with peaks in adolescence and old age. The male/female ratio is approximately 3:2. About one-third of patients present with extranodal disease. Especially the skin is often involved (two-thirds of all extranodal localisations). The tumours generally have an aggressive clinical behaviour, as in other lymphomas of high-grade malignancy. Especially the high relapse rate seems responsible for the unfavourable prognosis in these patients. However, patients with disease limited to the skin (skin-only presentation) tend to have a slower, protracted course, recalling that of the low-grade lymphomas. We conclude that, also on clinical grounds, CD30-positive ALCL is a distinct entity, in which, based on localisation of the disease, two subgroups can be discriminated with different clinical behaviour.
de Kan
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Department of Haematology, Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
van 't Veer
M B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged