title: T cell receptor gamma-chain gene polymerase chain reaction to diagnose central nervous system involvement by cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
abstract: The authors describe a patient who was suspected of having cutaneous T cell lymphoma involvement of the brain despite repeatedly negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, inconclusive flow cytometry, and no discrete lesion for brain biopsy. The diagnosis was made by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis that showed a monoclonal T cell receptor gamma-chain gene rearrangement in the CSF, identically sized to that present in a skin biopsy specimen. Thus, PCR could be used early and routinely to diagnose central nervous system spread of T cell lymphomas, because of its potentially superior sensitivity and specificity to CSF cytology.
authors: Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. rat@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Taylor
authors: Jo-Anne
authors: JA
authors: Vergilio
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Shapiro
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Raizen
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Hunt
authors: Cindy
authors: C
authors: McGrath
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Rook
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Bagg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics*