Fine needle aspiration cytology of small cell variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Small cell variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare and still underrecognized variant of ALCL. In contrast to the classic type of ALCL, which is sometimes mistaken for carcinoma or sarcoma, the small cell variant may be misdiagnosed as a reactive lesion without a high index of suspicion.


METHODS
We present a case of small cell variant of ALCL occurring in a 14-year-old female. It posed great difficulty in the fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis due to the rarity of large, atypical cells. A subsequent lymph node biopsy demonstrated the typical histologic and immunophenotypic findings of the small cell variant of ALCL.


CONCLUSIONS
This case indicates that small cell variant of ALCL should always be considered in the FNA diagnosis of unusual-looking, heterogeneous lymphoid proliferations dominated by atypical small or medium-sized lymphoid cells, particularly in young patients.
Kim
Sung-Eun
SE
Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Sinchon-dong 134, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.
Kim
Se Hoon
SH
Lim
Beom Jin
BJ
Hong
Soon-Won
SW
Yang
Woo-Ick
WI
D000293:Adolescent; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases