Objective: To investigate the expression of CD56 and the relationship between CD56 positive expression and EBV infection in T-cell lymphoma (TCL) in Guangdong province.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD56 and in situ hybridization was used to detect EBER in 46 cases of TCL.
Results: (1) 17.4% (8/46) TCL were CD56 positive. According to the site of origin, the TCL originated from the nose, pharynx and oral cavity had the highest CD56 positive rate (5/17, 29.4%). Anyhow, according to the type pattern, the diffuse large cell lymphoma had the highest CD56 positive rate (6/16, 37.5%). (2) 52.2% (24/46) of the TCl were EBER positive. (3) 4/8 cases of the CD56 positive TCl expressed EBER.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the expression of CD56 in TCL was possibly related to original sites and TCL subtypes. EBV infection was not related to CD56 positive TCL in this study.