Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma, Lymphoepithelioid Cell Type: Report of A Case Mimicking Tuberculous Lymphadenitis / 대한세포병리학회지

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma is difficult due to the varying size and shape of the neoplastic lymphoid cells and the frequent admixture of nonneoplastic mature lymphyocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells. We report a case of peripheral T cell lymphoma, lymphoepithelioid cell type, which was difficult to differentiate from tuberculous lymphadenitis due to the aggregates of epithelioid histiocytes mimicking granuloma and the past history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the inguinal lymph node in a 63-year-old male was characterized by hypercellular aspirates composed of a mixture of small and intermediate-size lymphoid cells and large lymphoid cells with background of confluent epithelioid histiocytes. The neoplastic lymphocytes demonstrated significant nuclear irregularity with protrusion and indentations of the nuclear membrane, prominent nucleoli, and frequent mitotic figures. The diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma was confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical studies.