Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type: a clinicopathological study of six cases.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinicopathological features of six unusual cases of nodal CD56+ and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma, a putative nodal counterpart of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type) in comparison with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma with secondary lymph node involvement (n = 24) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of cytotoxic molecule (CTM)+ and EBV+ type (n = 21).


RESULTS
All cases of nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type exhibited diffuse infiltration of pleomorphic medium-sized to large tumour cells, reminiscent of those in CTM+ EBV+ PTCL. The tumour cells had a typical phenotype of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: CD2+, CD3epsilon+, CD4-, CD5-, CD56+, T-cell intracellular antigen-1+, granzyme B+, perforin+ and EBV+. However, four of six cases demonstrated clonal T-cell receptor gamma-gene rearrangement on polymerase chain reaction analysis, unlike nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Comparison of clinical parameters and overall survival among the three groups demonstrated only minor differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma may occupy the grey zone between extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma and nodal CTM+ PTCL in a spectrum of NK to T-cell lymphomas that are EBV+. The close relationship between NK/T-cell lymphomas and cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas was also substantiated.
Takahashi
E
E
Department of Pathology, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Japan. emikot@aichi-med-u.ac.jp
Asano
N
N
Li
C
C
Tanaka
T
T
Shimada
K
K
Shimada
S
S
Yoshino
T
T
Kojima
M
M
Hara
K
K
Eimoto
T
T
Nakamura
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012367:RNA, Viral