Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes: case report and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) is a rare but recognized distinct disease entity among chronic B lymphoproliferative disorders. It is frequently misdiagnosed as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, (CLL) Prolymphocytic leukaemia or Hairy Cell leukaemia. Few cases have been reported worldwide.


METHODS
The case records of a sixty year old Nigerian male with a splenic lymphoma and a review of the literature on the subject using MEDLINE, other internet sources and manual library search was utilized. RESULT A sixty-year-old male with splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes, seen at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria is presented. However review of the blood film, bone marrow and Splenic aspirates showed absolute lymphocytosis, consisting of "villous" lymphocytes. He was commenced on an alkylating agent and a glucocorticoid, with partial remission in the first three months but was lost to follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate morphologic evaluation is advocated particularly in the resource limited settings were Cytogenetics, immunohistochemistry and immunophenotyping are not available.
Babadoko
A A
AA
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. ababadoko@yahoo.com
Hassan
A
A
Ahmed
A J
AJ
Isah
H A
HA
Suleiman
A M
AM
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology