title: Molecular genetic diagnosis of a primary central nervous system T cell lymphoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dudel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brück
mesh_terms: 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