Clinicopathological spectrum of hairy-cell leukemia: A single-center study with brief review of Indian literature

Objective: The presence of specific chemotherapeutic protocols for hairy cell leukemia (HCL) makes it essential to discriminate this entity from other lymphoproliferative disorders. Hence, awareness of the variations in clinical presentations and immunophenotypic aberrancies is requisite to ensure diagnostic accuracy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to analyze the clinical-pathological profile of patients with HCL diagnosed over a period of 81 months (2010–September 2017) in our institute. Flow cytometry was performed in all the patients, and further, BRAFV600E mutation analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a limited number of samples. Result: A total of 353 lymphoproliferative disorders were assessed during the period, of which 16 (4.5%) were diagnosed as HCL, which included 15 cases of classical HCL and single case of HCL-v. Striking male predominance was noted with a median age of 52 (range 22–90 years). 47% patients presented with pancytopenia, while 20% cases had leukocytosis. Three patients presented with bleeding diathesis in the form of melena and purpuric spots. The absence of splenomegaly was observed in 20% patients (4/15) while 2 (13.3%) cases had lymphadenopathy. Hypocellular marrow was observed in 13% cases. Bright expression of CD20/CD22 along with CD25/CD103/CD123/CD11c was noted in all the patients of classical HCL. Aberrant expression of CD23 and CD5 was seen in 33% ( n =5) and 6.7% ( n =1) cases respectively. CD200 was positive in all the 5/15 cases tested. The case of HCL–v presented with very high leukocyte count and exhibited a CD103/CD11c+ and CD123/CD25- profile. BRAFV600E, mutation was present in all the four patients tested who included patients with a hypocellular marrow and absent splenomegaly. Conclusion: HCL has characteristic profiles, yet it may exhibit unusual clinical and immunophenotypic presentations. Perspicacious use of flow cytometry and BRAFV600E mutation analysis will aid in the diagnosis in unprecedented cases

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm presenting as leukemia without cutaneous involvement in a 25 years male patient: Unusual presentation of a rare entity.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, aggressive neoplasm classifi ed under “acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related precursor neoplasm” by current WHO classifi cation. Elderly male are commonly affected with cutaneous lesion being the hallmark of disease presentation. The disease progresses rapidly and sooner or later involves bone marrow and peripheral blood. Cases presenting primarily as leukemia without cutaneous involvement is a rarity with about 29 cases reported in literature till date. Characteristic immunophenotype of CD4+/CD56+/− cells expressing antigens associated with plasmacytoid dendritic cells like CD123, TCL1, BDCA2/CD303, cutaneous lymphocyte-associated and interferon dependent molecule MxA, in absence of any other lineage specifi c marker confi rms the diagnosis. The disease has a poor survival and no standardized therapeutic strategy in the current scenario. A case of 25-year-male presenting with leukemic BPDCN without cutaneous involvement is presented here, who was treated with AML like protocol followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but succumbed to the disease within 8 months of diagnosis. The present case is being fi rst to be reported from India.

Simultaneous occurrence of chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Report of an unusual case.

The coexistence of chronic myeloid leukaemia(CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) has been reported occasionally in literature, with only seven cases of simultaneous occurrence of these two diseases. We present here a case of 57 yr male patient where a complete blood count and differential done using volume conductivity scatter (VCS) technology suggested a diagnosis of CML with CLL. It was further confi rmed by immunophneotyping and cytogenetic analysis. The patient was started on tyrosine kinase inhibitor, 400 mg once daily. Four months after the treatment, patient is doing fi ne with a count of 22 × 109/L and 64% lymphocytes.

Morphological spectrum of leukemic mantle cell lymphoma.

Background: Leukemic involvement in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is common, and can be secondary to nodal or extranodal disease or can be de-novo. There is paucity of literature that describes the morphological spectrum. Aim: This study was aimed at studying the morphological spectrum of leukemic MCL and to correlate the morphology with other features. Materials and Methods: Twenty six such cases diagnosed over a period of four years were studied. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspiration smears stained with Wrights stain were examined by three hematopathologists. Immunophenotyping was done using multicolor flow cytometry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) done in 12 cases showed t(11;14)(q13:q32). Results: Six cases had de-novo leukemic involvement; while 20 cases had secondary involvement. Morphologically, the cells were small (less than twice the size of red blood cell) or large. Small cell morphology in turn showed irregular nuclear border (n=13) or round nuclear contour (n=6). Large cells had blastic morphology (n=5) or had central prominent nucleoli resembling prolymhphocytes (n=2). Twenty cases showed characteristic immunophenotype of CD5+/CD19+/CD20+/FMC7+/CD10-/CD23- and light chain restrictions. Three cases expressed CD23 and two cases were negative for FMC7. Five out of 12 cases, where FISH was done, showed cytogenetic abnormalities in addition to t(11;14)(q13;q32). Conclusion: Morphological spectrum of leukemic MCL ranges from small cells resembling chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or follicular lymphoma (FL) to large cell mimicking prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) or acute leukemia. Large cell morphology was associated with more frequent additional cytogenetic abnormality as well as a poorer outcome.

Clinico-pathological profile of Hairy cell leukemia: Critical insights gained at a tertiary care cancer hospital.

Context: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare, low grade, B-cell neoplasm with a characteristic morphologic and immunophenotypic profile. It has to be distinguished from chronic lymphoproliferative disorders because of different treatment protocol and clinical course. Aims: To evaluate clinicopathological features including immunophenotypic analysis of cases diagnosed as HCL. Materials and Methods: The present study included 28 cases diagnosed over a period of nine years (2002-2010). Clinical presentation, complete blood count, bone marrow aspirate, and flow cytometric analysis of cases were reviewed. Treatment and follow-up details (ranging from 3-90 months) were noted. Results: This study revealed 28 cases (referrals-7, indoor-21), aged 26-69 years with a median age of 47 years, with a male predominance (M:F=6:1). The presenting complaints were weakness (80%) followed by fever (56%) and abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed splenomegaly in most patients (92%) and hepatomegaly in a minority (28%). The common laboratory features were anemia in 23 cases, pancytopenia in 14 cases, while two patients had leukocytosis and three patients had normal WBC count. Dry tap was observed in 84% of the cases where hairy cells constituted 16-97% of non-erythroid nucleated cells. Tartarte resistant acid phosphate staining was positive in all the eight cases where it was done. CD5 was negative in all the cases, while CD10 was expressed in three cases (13%) and CD23 in five cases (19%). Conclusions: Though pancytopenia is common, occasional patient can present with normal blood counts or leukocytosis. Few unusual findings include presence of lymphadenopathy, absence of palpable splenomegaly, and expression of CD23 and CD10 by the leukemic cells.

Microfilariae in Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.

Filariasis due to Wucheria bancrofti is endemic to Southern Asia. While the laboratory diagnosis has been conventionally made by demonstrating microfilariae in peripheral blood smears, these have also been occasionally diagnosed on aspiration cytology of various organs. This paper reports the finding of microfilariae in material obtained from the testicular mass in an eighteen year old male by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.