The small cell variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Anaplastic large cell lymphomas constitute a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic neoplasms that are characterized by immunopositivity for CD30 and the presence, in varying degrees, of large, pleomorphic "hallmark" cells. Primary systemic anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas are a subset of this group. Numerous heterogeneous histomorphologic patterns have been described in anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas, and all patterns tend to have a better prognosis than that found in anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative cases. We provide a short review of the small cell variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma to facilitate the diagnosis of this difficult-to-recognize entity, which may be confused with reactive processes, commonly presents with disseminated disease, and pursues an aggressive clinical course.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. thomas.a.summers@verizon.net
Thomas A
TA
Summers
Joel T
JT
Moncur
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D017730:Ki-1 Antigen