High-grade T-cell lymphoma complicating B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: an unusual manifestation of "Richter's syndrome".
Approximately 3% of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develop a high-grade large-cell lymphoma consistent with Richter's Syndrome. In most cases, these lymphomas are of B-cell origin and are believed to arise by clonal evolution from the CLL cells. We present a case of a patient with a 10-year history of B-CLL who developed an aggressive large-cell lymphoma, confirmed by immunophenotype to be of T-cell origin. We suggest that in patients with CLL, immunodysregulation can result in the proliferation of T cells, which may mutate and result in the development of a new malignant clone.
Novogrudsky
A
A
Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Amorosi
E L
EL
Gottesman
S R
SR
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2