Flow cytometric features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
The immunophenotypic features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT) have not been well described.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed our institutional experience with the flow cytometric features of 16 cases of AILT.


RESULTS
Multiparameter flow cytometry was able to identify a distinct population of immunophenotypically aberrant T cells in 15 of 16 cases. In 13 lymph node specimens, the neoplastic cells ranged from 1.9 to 87% (median 23%) of cells. The ratio of reactive to neoplastic T cells ranged from 0.01 to 20 (median 1.5); reactive T cells outnumbered neoplastic in 9/13 (69%) cases. The neoplastic populations expressed CD2, CD4, CD5, and CD45RO in all cases, lacked expression of CD8 and CD56 in all cases, and showed negative or dim surface CD3 in most cases. CD10 was expressed by the neoplastic populations in 11 of 14 cases at diagnosis; in 3 of these 11 only a subpopulation of the neoplastic cells was CD10(+). CD10 tended to be absent on neoplastic cells in staging bone marrows. The neoplastic population in all but one of the 15 positive cases possessed multiple immunophenotypic abnormalities and these were generally retained during the follow-up analyses of several cases.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate the potential utility of flow cytometry in the diagnosis and follow-up of AILT.
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Weina
W
Chen
Melissa V
MV
Kesler
Nitin J
NJ
Karandikar
Robert W
RW
McKenna
Steven H
SH
Kroft
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D019011:Antigens, CD7 / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007119:Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000032:analysis; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D019011:Antigens, CD7; D017252:CD3 Complex; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D015260:Neprilysin