title: Splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma: effect of prior corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: We report on three patients who were treated with corticosteroids only prior to the diagnosis of splenic lymphoma. Corticosteroids were administered for different conditions, at different doses, and for various periods of time. The primary diagnosis was splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma in the three cases, and it was reached with variable difficulty. We suggest that the corticosteroid treatment was one of the causes for the complications in reaching a diagnosis. The morphologic appearance of the microscopic splenic nodules was the most variable feature and may possibly reflect the dose and duration of the corticosteroid therapy. However, the histopathologic changes are probably not related with Epstein-Barr virus-induced immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 151, Beer-Sheva, 84101, Israel.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Itai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benharroch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone