Mutation characteristics of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: an analysis of 75 cases / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of gene mutations in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). Methods: Seventy-five AITL cases diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China from June 2021 to June 2023 were included. Their formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded or fresh tissues were subject to targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). The sequencing data was collected, and the distribution and type of gene mutations were analyzed. Results: 492 potential driver mutations were identified in 74 out of the 84 genes. Targeted sequencing data for the 75 AITL patients showed that the genes with mutation frequencies of ≥10% were TET2 (89.3%), RHOA (57.3%), IDH2 (37.3%), DNMT3A (36.0%), KMT2C (21.3%), PLCG1 (12.0%), and KDM6B (10.7%). There were significant co-occurrence relationships between TET2 and RHOA, TET2 and IDH2, and RHOA and IDH2 gene mutations (P<0.05), respectively, while TET2 and KDM6B gene mutations were mutually exclusive (P<0.05). Conclusions: The study reveals the mutational characteristics of AITL patients using NGS technology, which would provide insights for molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy of AITL.

Analysis of clinicopathological and molecular abnormalities of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the clinicopathological features, molecular changes and prognostic factors in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).@*METHODS@#Sixty-one cases AITL diagnosed by Department of Pathology of Peking University Cancer Hospital were collected with their clinical data. Morphologically, they were classified as typeⅠ[lymphoid tissue reactive hyperplasia (LRH) like]; typeⅡ[marginal zone lymphoma(MZL)like] and type Ⅲ [peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not specified (PTCL-NOS) like]. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the presence of follicular helper T-cell (TFH) phenotype, proliferation of extra germinal center (GC) follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells and large B transformation. The density of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) + cells was counted with slides stained by Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization on high power field (HPF). T-cell receptor / immunoglobulin gene (TCR/IG) clonality and targeted exome sequencing (TES) test were performed when necessary. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.@*RESULTS@#Morphological subtype (%): 11.4% (7/61) cases were classified as type Ⅰ; 50.8% (31/61) as type Ⅱ; 37.8% (23/61) as type Ⅲ. 83.6% (51/61) cases showed classical TFH immunophenotype. With variable extra-GC FDC meshwork proliferation (median 20.0%); 23.0% (14/61) had HRS-like cells; 11.5% (7/61) with large B transformation. 42.6% (26/61) of cases with high counts of EBV. 57.9% (11/19) TCR+/IG-, 26.3% (5/19) TCR+/IG+, 10.5% (2/19) were TCR－/IG－, and 5.3% (1/19) TCR－/IG+. Mutation frequencies by TES were 66.7% (20/30) for RHOA, 23.3% (7/30) for IDH2 mutation, 80.0% (24/30) for TET2 mutation, and 33.3% (10/30) DNMT3A mutation. Integrated analysis divided into four groups: (1) IDH2 and RHOA co-mutation group (7 cases): 6 cases were type Ⅱ, 1 case was type Ⅲ; all with typical TFH phenotype; HRS-like cells and large B transformation were not found; (2) RHOA single mutation group (13 cases): 1 case was type Ⅰ, 6 cases were type Ⅱ, 6 cases were type Ⅲ; 5 cases without typical TFH phenotype; 6 cases had HRS-like cells, and 2 cases with large B transformation. Atypically, 1 case showed TCR－/IG－, 1 case with TCR－/IG+, and 1 case with TCR+/IG+; (3) TET2 and/or DNMT3A mutation alone group (7 cases): 3 cases were type Ⅱ, 4 cases were type Ⅲ, all cases were found with typical TFH phenotype; 2 cases had HRS-like cells, 2 cases with large B transformation, and atypically; (4) non-mutation group (3 cases), all were type Ⅱ, with typical TFH phenotype, with significant extra-GC FDC proliferation, without HRS-like cells and large B transformation. Atypically, 1 case was TCR－/IG－. Univariate analysis confirmed that higher density of EBV positive cell was independent adverse prognostic factors for both overall survival (OS) and progression free survival(PFS), (P=0.017 and P=0.046).@*CONCLUSION@#Pathological diagnoses of ALTL cases with HRS-like cells, large B transformation or type Ⅰ are difficult. Although TCR/IG gene rearrangement test is helpful but still with limitation. TES involving RHOA, IDH2, TET2, DNMT3A can robustly assist in the differential diagnosis of those difficult cases. Higher density of EBV positive cells counts in tumor tissue might be an indicator for poor survival.

Progressively transformed germinal center-like follicular T-cell lymphoma:a clinicopathological analysis of 14 cases / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features of progressively transformed germinal center-like follicular T-cell lymphoma (PTGC-like FTCL). Methods: The clinicopathologic data of 14 PTGC-like FTCL cases that were diagnosed at the Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Medical University from January 2017 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection status were analyzed in these cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the clonal gene rearrangements of T cell receptor (TCR) and the immunoglobulin (Ig) in 10 and 8 cases, respectively. Results: The male to female ratio was 5∶2. The median age was 61 years (range 32-70 years). All patients had lymphadenopathy at the time of diagnosis. By using the Ann Arbor system staging, seven cases were classified as stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, and seven cases as stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ. Seven cases had B symptoms, four cases had splenomegaly, and two cases had skin rash and pruritus. Previously, three cases were diagnosed as classic Hodgkin's lymphoma, three cases as small B-cell lymphoma, two cases as atypical lymphoid hyperplasia unable to exclude angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), one case as EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder, and one case as peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) associated with the proliferation of B cells. All the 14 cases showed that the large nodules were composed of mature CD20+, IgD+B lymphocytes admixed with small aggregates of neoplastic cells with pale to clear cytoplasm. Moreover, hyperplastic germinal centers (GCs) and Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg-like (HRS-like) cells were seen within these nodules in two and five cases, respectively. The neoplastic cells expressed CD3 (14/14), CD4 (14/14), PD1 (14/14), ICOS (14/14), CD10 (9/14), bcl-6 (12/14), CXCL13 (10/14), and CD30 (10/14). The HRS-like cells in five cases expressed CD20 (2/5), PAX5 (5/5), CD30 (5/5), CD15 (2/5), LCA (0/5), OCT2 (5/5) and BOB1 (2/5). Moreover, neoplastic T cells formed rosettes around HRS-like cells. EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization showed scattered, small, positive bystander B lymphocytes in 8/14 cases, including 3/5 cases containing HRS-like cells. All tested cases (including five with HRS-like cells) showed monoclonal TCR gene rearrangement and polyclonal Ig gene rearrangement. Conclusions: PTGC-like FTCL is a rare tumor originated from T-follicular helper cells. It could be distinguished from angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma by the formation of follicular structure, and lack of follicular dendritic cell proliferation outside the follicles and the polymorphous inflammatory background. In addition, it should be differentiated from lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma and low-grade B cell lymphoma.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with fever, arthritis and skin pigmentation: A case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is a rare T-cell lymphoma. The clinical manifestations are not specific. In addition to the common clinical manifestations of lymphomas such as fever, weight loss, night sweats and lymphadenopathy, it may also have skin rashes, arthritis, multiple serous effusions, eosinophilia and other systemic inflammatory or immune symptoms. The lymphoma cells of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma originates from follicular helper T cells, and the follicular structure of lymph nodes disappears. In the tumor microenvironment, in addition to tumor cells, there are a large number of over-activated immune cells, such as abnormally activated B cells, which produce a series of systemic inflammation or immune-related symptoms. This disease is rare and difficult to diagnose. This article reports a 36-year-old female. She got fever, joint swelling and pain, skin pigmentation, accompanied by hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, anemia and other multiple-systems manifestations. The clinical manifestations of this patient were similar to autoimmune diseases such as adult onset Still's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis, which made the diagnosis difficult. At the beginning of the disease course, the patient got arthritis and fever. And her white blood cells were significantly increased. Adult onset Still's disease should be considered, but her multiple-systems manifestations could not be explained by adult onset Still's disease. And her arthritis of hands should be distinguished with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the patient's joint swelling could get better within 3-7 days, and there was no synovitis and bone erosion on joint imaging examination. The rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibody were negative. The diagnostic evidence for rheumatoid arthritis was insufficient. The patient's skin pigmentation and punctate depigmentation were similar to those of systemic sclerosis. But the patient had no Raynaud's phenomenon, and her sclerosis-related antibody was negative. The diagnostic evidence for systemic sclerosis was also insufficient. After 3 years, she was finally diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma by lymph node biopsy aspiration. This case suggests that the clinical manifestations of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma are diverse, and some symptoms similar to immune diseases may appear. When the patient's clinical symptoms are atypical and immune diseases cannot explain the patient's condition, and further evidence should be sought to confirm the diagnosis.

Expression and Clinical Pathological Significance of EBER, PTEN and VEGF in Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and clinical pathological significance of EB virus (Epstein-Barr virus, EBV), PTEN and VEGF in angioimmunoblastic T -cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The EBV -encoded small RNA (EBER) expression in 21 cases of AITL was detected by in situ hybridization. The expressions of PTEN and VEGF were detected in 21 cases of AITL and 20 cases of lymph node reactive hyperplasia by immunohistochemical EnVision two-steps method. The expression and clinicopathological significance of EBV, PTEN and VEGF in AITL were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive expression rate of EBER in 21 cases of AITL was 61.9%; the expressions of PTEN and VEGF in AITL and lymph node reactive hyperplasia were significantly different (P<0.05). The expressions of EBER and PTEN negatively correlated (P<0.05). The EBER positive expression rates of male patients in AITL group and the progressed group was 80% and 78.6% respectively, which were significantly higher than that in female patients and patients in non- advanced group (P<0.05); the PTEN expression rates in the AITL group accompanying B symptoms and progressed group were 31.3% and 21.4%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in patients without B symptoms and non-progressed group (P<0.05). Survival analysis showed that the PTEN expression negatively correlated with the overall survival rate of patients (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EBV infection and low expression of PTEN may indicate the deterioration of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Whether the EBV involved in the ocurring of T-cell angioimmunoblastic lymphoma by down-regulating PTEN expression is unclear, further research is needed.</p>

Clinicopathologic analysis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg-like cells / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features and pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with HRS-like cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with HRS-like cells were examined histologically and immunohistochemically (EliVision method) and in-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER), and the literature was reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cytologic and microscopic features of these imprints and lymph node samples showed a heterogeneous population of hematolymphoid cells, including small to intermediate lymphoid cells, immunoblasts, plasma cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils, as well as small vessels that were surrounded by some of the abnormal cells. The neoplastic T-cells expressed CD3 and CD5 and partly positive for CD10 and bcl-6, CD21 showed expanded and irregular follicular dendritic cell (FDC) meshworks that surrounding the high HEV. The HRS-like cells were positive for MUM-1 and Ki-67, variable intensity positive for CD30, CD20, and PAX-5, but negative for CD15. EBV-positive cells included HRS-like cells and small to large-sized neoplastic T-cells, which formed small clusters or scattering in the background of the disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical course of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with HRS-like cells is aggressive. Which present with histomorphology overlap with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), similar to CHL in EBER and immunophenotype, however, it is easy to misdiagnosis as HL. Thus, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma pathology diagnosis should comprehensive analysis of different kinds of materials, including clinical features, and histological structure, and EBER, and immunophenotype, and gene rearrangement.</p>

Investigation of lymphoma patients' EBV infection status / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to investigate the EBV infection status of lymphoma patients from January 2008 to April 2012 in the First Hospital of Peking University. All the candidates have been detected for EBV which was either peripheral blood EBV DNA or ISH EBER in pathology from January 2008 to April 2012. The information on their sex, age, pathological type, peripheral blood EBV DNA and ISH EBER was collected, the positive rate of different EBV tests was studied, and the different characteristics of the EBV(+) and EBV(-) group were also explored. And Kaplan-Meier and Cox survival analysis was applied to investigate the EBV's effect on overall survival of these patients. The results showed that among 169 lymphoma patients, the positive rates of EBV EBER in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma were 84.8%, 72.7% and 40.0%, respectively, and were ranged as the top three. The positive rate of EBV in DLBCL was relatively lower (16.7%) than that in above three types of lymphoma. The positive rate of peripheral blood EBV DNA of the elderly EBV(+) DLBCL was 50%. One out of 10 HL patients was subjected to EBER detection, the result of which was positive. The positive rate of peripheral blood EBV DNA of HL was 10%. Both the T cell lymphoma proportion and the rate of B symptom were higher in EBV(+) group than in EBV(-) group. In all the EBER(+) cases, the difference of OS between EBV(+) and EBV(-) patients was statistically significant. In multiple-factor survival analysis, peripheral blood EBV DNA positive was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in the patients with lymphoma. It is concluded that EBV is closely related to extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Peripheral blood EBV DNA positive is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in lymphoma patients.

Clinicopathological analysis of 64 case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four cases of AITL were retrospectively analyzed by histopathological and immunohistochemical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 35 men and 29 women, the median age was 59 years (range, 25-84 ys). AITL typically presented with advanced stage, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and systemic symptoms. Morphologically, the lymph nodes showed partial or total obliteration of the normal architecture by a polymorphic infiltration of lymphocytes, and by proliferation of follicular dendritic cells and that of high endothelial venules. Most cases contained a monoclonal T-cell population as well as clonal cytogenetic abnormalities. Immunophenotype analysis showed that neoplastic cells expressed the following markers: CXCL13 (positive rate 95.3%), PD-1 (positive rate 75.0%), CD10 (positive rate 25.0%), Bcl- 6 (positive rate 40.0%), CD2 (positive rate 96.0%), CD3 (positive rate 95.0%), CD4 (positive rate 84.0%), CD5 (positive rate 73.0%), EBER (positive rate 39.5%) and Ki-67 (average positive rate 55.0%), and frequently showed aberrant loss or reduced expression of CD7 and CD8.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neoplastic cells of AITL showed features of CD4+ TFH, with peculiar clinical features. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas with a follicular growth pattern may show overlapping features with focal AITL.</p>

Follicular immunoblastic lymphoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of a case / 南方医科大学学报

Primary follicular immunoblastic lymphoma (FIBL) is an extremely rare lymphoma. The positive expression of CD10 suggests the lymphoma originating from germinal centers (GC) and CD138-positive expression generally indicates plasmablastic or plasmacytic differentiation. We report such a rare case in a Chinese female patient and analyze the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of this disease. PET-CT examination was performed to detect signs of systemic lymph node metastasis. We also discussed the differential diagnosis of FIBL from follicular lymphoma (FL) and reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH). As a rare variant of human follicular lymphoma, FIBL is featured by a neoplastic overgrowth of intrafollicular immunoblasts. Compared with FL, FIBL has a greater chance to evolve into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with therefore a poorer prognosis.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with large granular lymphocytosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

To improve the recognition of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and to reduce misdiagnosis, a case diagnosed as AITL with large granular lymphocytosis was reported and the related articles were reviewed. A series of clinical tests, pathologic examination and immunohistochemical test, TCR gene rearrangement detection by multiple PCR and assay of lymphocyte immunophenotypes were carried out. The results indicated that the patient was characterized by fever, skin rash, generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, pleural effusion, ascites, anemia and thrombocytopenia, increase of circulating large granular lymphocytes with CD3(-) and CD16(+), CD56(+) were detected, T-cell receptor γ-chain gene was rearranged. More large granular lymphocytes with abnormal mitosis were found in ascites. The histological and immunohistochemical changes observed by the lymph node biopsy were compatible with AITL, some cells of which were CD56-positive. In conclusion, AITL is characterized by aggressive progress and generally occurs in elderly patients, its clinical prognosis is poor, the large granular lymphocytosis may be an autoimmune response to the tumor cells or originate from tumor stem/progenitor cells.

Follicular variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic and genetic study of 2 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinicopathologic and genetic features of follicular variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (FV-PTCL), with particular attention to the relationship of this type of lymphoma with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data, hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of lymph node biopsies from 2 FV-PTCL cases were reviewed. Immunohistochemical phenotyping and detection of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER) through in situ hybridization (ISH) were performed. The EnVision two-step method was used for all antibodies except CXCL13 (by using three-step streptavidin immunoperoxidase method). Analysis of clonality and ITK/SYK gene rearrangement was conducted using PCR and RT-PCR assays, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinically, the two patients presented with superficial lymphadenopathy similarly. Histologically, case 1 showed a follicular/nodular lymphoid proliferation without marked germinal centers. The neoplastic cells comprised mainly medium sized cells with abundant, sometimes clear cytoplasms. Similar histologic findings were seen in case 2 in addition to a concurrent component mimicking typical AITL noticed. Of both cases, the neoplastic cells showed positive reactivity to CD3, CD4, CD10, PD1, and CXCL13. Positive hybridization signals for EBER were only seen in case 2, and double stains demonstrated that those EBV-positive cells were mostly the reactive transformed B-cells. Monoclonal T-cell proliferation was proved by the rearranged TCR gene detection in both cases. Neither of the current cases expressed ITK/SYK fusion transcripts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FV-PTCL shows the similar or overlapped morphological and immunophenotypic features to those of AITL, possibly suggesting the presence of a potential relationship between these two types of lymphomas.</p>

Clinical features and prognostic factors of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To retrospectively analyze the clinical features and prognostic factors of patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 18 AITL patients undergoing integrated treatment from Feb. 1998 to April 2009 in our department were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients received CHOP-like regimens as initial chemotherapy, including 4 once treated with radiotherapy and 1 with high dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT) as upfront consolidation therapy. B-cell, T-cell and NK-cell subgroup proportions in the peripheral blood were tested by flow cytometry in 6 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of the 18 patients was 55 years, male and female ratio was 2.6:1. Seventy-two percent of the patients were in an advanced stage. 72% of them had B symptoms, 69% hypergammaglobulinemia, 60% elevated LDH and 47% anemia. Forty-four percent achieved CR after initial treatment with CHOP-like regimens. With the median follow-up of 26 months, the overall 2-year survival and disease free survival (DFS) rates were 62.2% and 44.4%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, only age > 30 years and primary refractory disease adversely affected overall survival (OS); age > 30 years, advanced stage, B symptoms and splenomegaly adversely affected DFS. Four patients suffered from severe pneumonia during treatment, 2 of them died of respiratory failure. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood lymphocytes showed that 5 of the 6 tested cases had decreasing proportion of CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells, B cells and NK cells but elevated CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. Two heavily treated patients achieved partial and complete response by thalidomide therapy, with a progression free survival (PFS) of 2 and 6+ months, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AITL patients do not response well to CHOP-like regimens chemotherapy. Age < 30 years and sensitive to initial chemotherapy are associated with prolonged OS. Effectiveness of thalidomide in the treatment of AITL deserves further investigation. Peripheral blood lymphocytes test indicates that AITL patients suffered from both natural and acquired immune defects.</p>

Clinicopathologic study of 963 cases of mature T-cell and natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with respect to 2008 WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of various types of mature T-cell and natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma in Guangdong, China, with respect to the 2008 WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven hundred and thirty-seven (1137) cases of mature T-cell or NK/T-cell lymphoma diagnosed during the period from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou area were retrieved. The clinical data, histologic features and immunohistochemical findings were reviewed by a panel of experienced hematopathologists. Additional immunostaining was performed if indicated. The cases were re-classified according to the 2008 WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine hundred and sixty-three (963) cases fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of mature T-cell or NK/T-cell lymphoma and accounted for 20.1% of all cases of lymphoma encountered during the same period (963/4801). A predominance of extranodal involvement was noted in 644 cases (66.9%), while 319 cases (33.1%) showed mainly nodal disease. The prevalence of various lymphoma subtypes was as follows: peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTCL, NOS) 293 cases (30.4%), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type 281 cases (29.2%), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) 198 cases (20.6%), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT) 46 cases (4.8%). The male-to-female ratio was 1.99. The median age of the patients was 44 years, with the peak age of PTCL, NOS, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type and AILT being 55 to 64 years, 25 to 54 years and 65 to 74 years, respectively. ALK-positive ALCL occurred more frequently in young age, while the ALK-negative ALCL cases occurred mainly in the elderly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extranodal lesions predominate in mature T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas occurring in Guangzhou area. There is a male predominance and the overall incidence shows no increasing trend with age of the patient. The peak age of various subtypes however varies. The most common subtype was PTCL, NOS, followed by extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, ALCL and AILT. The relatively frequent occurrence of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type in Guangdong area is likely associated with the high incidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection there.</p>

Clinical analysis of 12 patients with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

To evaluate the clinical, pathological characters and prognosis of patients with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL), the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotypes, therapy and survival rate of 12 AITL patients which were confirmed by pathologic examination were retrospectively studied. The results indicated that main symptom was observed as general lymphadenopathy, however, 9 patients had fever. The diagnosis of AITL was based on lymph-node biopsy. The histopathologic characteristics of AITL showed the damage of normal lymphnode structure, the proliferation of immunoblastic cells and arborescent super vascularization. All immunophenotypes were mature peripheral T-cellular. CVP regimen was the most common chemotherapy regimen used for patients. 58% patients have a good initial response to chemotherapy. 3-year survival was 25%, with median survival time of 25 months. In conclusion, most cases of AITL display an aggressive course, therefore, the disease progresses rapidly and has unfavorable prognosis, further studies are required to improve its therapy regimen.

A case of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma in a patient with ichthyosis / 대한내과학회지

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL), which accounts for only 1~2% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, is commonly accompanied by skin lesions. Those associated with AITL include erythematous plaques, nodules or rashes. Histological examination of most lesions shows infiltration by malignant lymphocytes. Ichthyosis is a generalized skin disease characterized by hyperkeratosis, in which the skin acquires an appearance resembling fish scales. Some cases may be acquired, but most have a genetic basis. We report a case of AITL with associated ichthyosis that is considered to be inherited.

Histopathologic findings of lymph node biopsy cases in comparison with clinical features

To determine useful and important clinical signs and symptoms for evaluation of lymphadenopathy with consideration of histopathologic findings of biopsy. This retrospective case-series study was done on patients hospital folders who came with lymphadenopathy, Informations was collected about clinical signs, symptoms, age, gender and histopathologic findings. It was then analyzed by SPSS version 13 with chi-square test. There were 208 specimens, 98 women [47.1%] and 110 men [52.9%]. Mean age was 32.94 years. There were 45 cases [21.6%] of malignancy, 33 cases [15.9%] of infectious diseases and 130 cases [62.5%] of reactive lymphadenopathy. The most common histopathologic finding in all ages was reactive lymphadenopathy. Clinical signs and symptoms had significant relationship with pathologic findings. For a decision of lymph node biopsy attention to patients symptoms and signs especially B signs, size of the lymph node >2cm, generalized lymphadenopathy, mobility of lymph node and splenomegaly seems to be the useful guide lines for physician. In this study it seems that decision to take biopsy was correct in 75% of the cases

Clinicopathologic features and diagnosis of 18 patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical and pathologic features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma(AITL) and provide evidence for diagnosis.@*METHODS@#Eighteen AITL patients (9 males and 9 females aged from 14 to 70 years) were retrospectively analyzed in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 2002 to September 2007.@*RESULTS@#Characteristic features at the presentation of AITL included generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, splenomegaly, and skin rashes with polyclonal hyper-gammaglobulinemia and other hematological abnormalities (such as Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia), which often involved the bone marrow and had well-described histologic features. The positive rate for CXCL13 was 93.3%.@*CONCLUSION@#Repeated lymphadenbiopsy is helpful for AITL diagnosis. Routine histological and immunohistochemical examinations (especially including CXCL13) play significant role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of AITL.

Morphologic and immunophenotypic analysis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the morphologic and immunophenotypic features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), as well as the origin of the proliferative follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in AITL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical study for CD10, CXCL13, bcl-6 and CD21 was performed on 29 cases of AITL. Double immunostaining for bcl-6/CD3, CD10/CD21 and CD10/CD20 were also carried out. Cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type, enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and reactive lymphoid proliferation were selected as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amongst the 29 cases of AITL studied, 75.9% (22/29) showed aberrant expression of CD10, while all except one of the controlled cases were negative, 82.8% (24/29) of the AITL cases expressed CXCL13, while all cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified were negative. As for bcl-6 staining, although the highest percentage of bcl-6-positive cells was observed in AITL, the expression pattern was not useful in differentiating AITL from peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified and lymphoid reaction. Besides, all cases of AITL demonstrated the characteristic proliferation of follicular dendritic cells. Two of the cases, which contained obvious germinal centers, had the follicular dendritic cell meshwork extending beyond the lymphoid follicles.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As compared with bcl-6, CD10 and CXCL13 are specific and sensitive markers in diagnosing AITL. Part of the proliferative FDCs in AITL may originate from the germinal centers.</p>

Expressions of CXCL13, CD10 and bcl-6 in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the value of immunomarkers CXCL13, CD10, bcl-6 in pathologic diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifteen cases of AITL, 30 cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS) and 30 cases of reactive lymph nodes with paracortical hyperplasia (RH) encountered during the period from January, 1990 to January, 2008 were retrieved from the archival files of the Department of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, China. The morphologic features were reviewed and compared. Immunohistochemical study was performed by SP method for CXCL13, CD10, bcl-6, CD21, CD3epsilon, CD3, CD45RO, CD20 and Ki-67. TCR-gamma gene rearrangement study was also carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Regressed follicles were evident in 7.8% (9/115) of AITL cases, 6.7% (2/30) of PTCL, NOS cases and 83.3% (25/30) of RH cases, respectively. A marked increase of number of arborizing venules was shown in 98.3% (113/115) of AITL cases, 63.3% (19/30) of PTCL, NOS cases and 76.7% (23/30) of RH cases, respectively. In lymph nodes with paracortical hyperplasia, the expression of CXCL13, CD10 and bcl-6 were restricted to the germinal centers. In AITL, 96.5% (111/115) of cases showed CXCL13 expression, in contrast to 26.7% (8/30) of PTCL, NOS. Expression of CD10 and bcl-6 were found in the neoplastic cells in 50.4% (58/115) and 78.3% (90/115) of AITL, and 3.3% (1/30) and 3.3% (1/30) of PTCL, NOS, respectively. Irregular meshworks of CD21-positive follicular dendritic cells were found in all the AITL cases. Clonal TCR-gamma rearrangement was detected in 83% (83/100) of the AITL cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>AITL is a type of lymphoma originated from the follicular helper T cells. Detailed morphologic assessment and use of immunohistochemical markers are essential for accurate diagnosis.</p>