Association between sarcoidosis and lymphoma revisited.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between sarcoidosis and lymphoma.


METHODS
The hospital notes of five patients with sarcoidosis and a lymphoproliferative disorder were reviewed. Histological material on which the diagnoses of sarcoidosis and lymphoma were made was re-analysed.


RESULTS
Four of the five patients had well documented sarcoidosis preceding the development of lymphoma by 18 months to 28 years; the fifth patient had lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with a reactive granuloma reaction. Two patients had chronic sarcoidosis and three were treated with prednisolone. The types of lymphoma were: Hodgkin's disease (n = 1), B cell lymphoma (n = 2) (mantle cell and lymphoplasmacytic/local plasmacytoma) and large granular lymphocyte leukaemia (T cell) (n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
The association between sarcoidosis and lymphoma is confirmed, suggesting that sarcoidosis may be a predisposing factor for the development of a lymphoid malignancy due to disturbance of the immune system. All types of lymphoma may develop. The first case of T cell granular lymphocytic leukaemia in a patient with sarcoidosis has been documented.
Karakantza
M
M
Department of Haematology, Royal Marsden Hospital, London.
Matutes
E
E
MacLennan
K
K
O'Connor
N T
NT
Srivastava
P C
PC
Catovsky
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology