Molecular genetic diagnosis of a primary central nervous system T cell lymphoma.
Primary central nervous system T cell lymphomas are rare tumors. Histologically, they may be indistinguishable from other entities like inflammatory processes. In such cases, molecular genetic verification of clonal T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements is an indispensable diagnostic tool. Here we present a case where identification of TCR beta and gamma gene rearrangements by polymerase chain reaction was used to differentiate between a vasculitis and a primary CNS T cell lymphoma, which has profound consequences for therapy management and outcome.
Harder
A
A
Institute of Neuropathology, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Dudel
C
C
Anagnostopoulos
I
I
Hummel
M
M
Brück
W
W
D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis