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>

Mantle cell lymphoma: clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of 102 cases occurring in Chinese patients / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of Chinese patients with mantle cell lymphoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and two cases of mantle cell lymphoma occurring in Chinese patients were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The follow-up information was also analyzed. The cases were classified as mantle zone, nodular or diffuse patterns and as typical or blastoid variants. Age, Ann-Arbor staging, B symptoms, hematologic parameters, histologic variants, mitotic index and immunophenotype were assessed for possible prognostic implication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of the patients was 59 years (range: 30 to 79 years) and the male-to-female ratio was 2.92:1. Seventy-one patients (87.65%) presented with advanced stage disease (Ann Arbor stage III to IV). B symptoms were present in 45.45% of patients. The commonest site of involvement was lymph node (100%). The other involved sites included bone marrow (64.44%), spleen (63.16%), Waldeyer's ring (31.25%), peripheral blood (29.41%), liver (22.64%) and gastrointestinal tract (14.71%). All cases expressed B-cell markers but were negative for T-cell marker. Majority of cases were positive for cyclin D1 (94.12%) and CD5 (71.43%). Blastoid variant accounted for 24.51% of cases. Amongst the 68 cases with follow-up data available, the median survival was 10 months. Parameters associated with shorter survival included diffuse pattern, blastoid variant, high mitotic index, high proliferative activity and presence of bone marrow involvement.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of mantle cell lymphoma occurring in Chinese are similar to those in Caucasians. Diffuse pattern, blastoid variant, high mitotic index, high proliferative activity and involvement of bone marrow indicate poor prognosis.</p>

Rosai-Dorfman disease: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and etiologic study of 16 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), expression of various antigens, human herpes virus type 8 (HHV8), human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-mRNA, and compare the findings with those in the literature.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathologic findings of 16 Rosai-Dorfman disease cases were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical study for S-100 protein, CD68 (PG-M1), CD163, CD21, CD1a, CD20, CD45RO, CD4, CD8, M-CSF and HHV8 was carried out in 9 of the 16 cases. In-situ hybridization for EBV-mRNA and HPV-DNA was also performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The male-to-female ratio of the patients was 4.33:1. Amongst the 16 cases studied, 62.5% (10/16) presented nodal RDD, with cervical lymph node predominantly involved. Half of these cases had affected lymph nodes in more than one anatomic site. Extranodal RDD represented 37.5% (6/16) of the cases. The relapse rate of extranodal RDD was higher than that of nodal RDD. Histologically, nodal RDD was characterized by dilated sinuses filled with large polygonal histiocytes which contained lymphocytes and plasma cells. For extranodal lesions, various degrees of stromal fibrosis were seen in association with mixed inflammatory cells (especially plasma cells). The large polygonal histiocytes varied in number and were distributed in clusters or patches. Immunohistochemical study showed that the abnormal histiocytes were strongly positive for S-100 protein. They also expressed CD68, CD163 and M-CSF, but were negative for CD1a, CD21 and HHV8. The lymphocytes in cytoplasm of these histiocytes were positive for both T and B cell markers (with T cell predominance, including a mixture of CD4- and CD8-positive cells). HPV-DNA and EBV-mRNA were not detected by in-situ hybridization. To date, 62 cases of RDD have been reported in mainland China, including 34 cases of nodal RDD and 18 cases of extranodal RDD. The remaining 10 cases involved both lymph nodes and extranodal sites. Compared with overseas reports, RDD occurring in China tended to affect older patients and with slight male predilection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Rosai-Dorfman disease is relatively rare in China. Pathologic diagnosis of extranodal RDD may be difficult. The demographic data of RDD in China, including age and sex of patients, are different from those in the literature.</p>

Pathologic changes caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus: postmortem study of a case / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the postmortem findings of a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus occurring in human beings.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Postmortem examination was carried out in a deceased caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Detailed light microscopy of major organs, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain, was performed. The lung tissue was further investigated by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Major histopathologic changes in lungs secondary to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus included diffuse alveolar damage, hyaline membrane formation and focal hemorrhage. Some of the alveolar spaces contained lightly eosinophilic liquid, lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells and small number of neutrophils. Congested capillaries were commonly seen in the alveolar septa which were focally rimmed by hyaline membrane. Immunohistochemical study showed that the lymphocytes were mainly of T lineage and macrophages were also demonstrated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus causes pathologic changes mostly in lungs, including diffuse alveolar damage and acute exudative changes (involving mainly T lymphocytes and macrophages). The resulting parenchymal destruction, consolidation, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage eventually lead to respiratory distress and death.</p>

Expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase and survivin proteins in anaplastic large cell lymphoma and its significance / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and survivin proteins in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and there clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The morphologic characteristics were studied by routine light microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining for ALK and survivin proteins was performed using LSAB method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ALK protein was positive in 51 cases (63%) and negative in 30 cases (37%) of the 81 cases of ALCL studied. The prognosis of patients with ALK protein expression was better than those without ALK expression (P < 0.05). As for survivin protein, there were various degrees of expression in all the 77 ALCL cases studied. High level of survivin protein expression was observed in 33 cases (42.9%), while low level of expression was seen in 44 cases (57.1%). The expression of survivin protein did not correlate with that of ALK protein (P > 0.05). The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with high survivin protein expression (P < 0.05). In cases with ALK protein expression, the prognosis was less favorable if there was also high co-expression of survivin protein (P < 0.05). In ALK protein negative cases, prognosis did not significantly correlate with the expression of survivin protein (P > 0.05). In addition, multivariate analysis confirmed the prognosis value of ALK protein expression, survivin protein expression and constitutional symptoms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Survivin protein expression can serve as an independent prognostic predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome in patients with ALCL, especially when ALK protein is positive.</p>