Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: further evidence for a distinct neoplasm originating from large granular lymphocytes of T/NK phenotype.
We report the case of a 20 year-old caucasian woman who presented a primary subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) as an invasive tumor of the chest wall. Herein, the neoplastic cells were found to express a CD3+CD8+ phenotype but also displayed variably the natural killer (NK)-associated antigens CD56 and CD57 as well as granzyme B. On cytological examination, these cells showed a large granular lymphocyte (LGL)-like morphology with presence of azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Electron dense and membrane bound granules like those found in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were also demonstrated by electron microscopy. Neither rearrangement of the T-cell receptor subunits nor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome was observed at the molecular level. The LGL-like features of the neoplastic cells found in this case and the presence of NK-associated antigens provide additional support to the cytotoxic derivation of most SPTCL.
Department of Pathology, CHU St Pierre/ULB-Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
J L
JL
Dargent
C
C
Roufosse
J P
JP
Delville
A
A
Kentos
J
J
Delplace
A
A
Kornreich
P
P
Cochaux
P
P
Hilbert
O
O
Pradier
W
W
Feremans
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor