title: T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma presenting in the spleen: a clinicopathologic analysis of 3 cases.
abstract: We review the clinical, pathologic, and molecular genetic features of 3 splenic T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas and discuss their differential diagnosis. All patients presented with symptomatic splenomegaly and underwent diagnostic/therapeutic splenectomy. Microscopically, the spleen in all cases showed a micronodular proliferation of lymphoid cells. A proportion of the nodules demonstrated central hyalinization or sclerosis. There was also an exuberant extramedullary hematopoiesis. On immunohistochemical stain, the nodules consisted predominantly of small T cells with scattered large atypical B cells. The clonal nature of the atypical B cells was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction assays for immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangement. In the H&E sections, the differential diagnoses included Hodgkin's lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and nonneoplastic granulomatous process. The presence of exuberant extramedullary hematopoiesis also raised the possibility of a chronic myeloproliferative disorder. The combined morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic data are essential for a correct diagnosis of splenic T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Shiyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Karen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Jeannine T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*