Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma initially presenting with replacement of bone marrow and peripheral plasmacytosis

Intern Med. 2007;46(7):419-24. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.46.6121. Epub 2007 Apr 2.

Abstract

A 73-year-old man presented with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a variety of hematological and immunological abnormalities. The bone marrow was replaced by polymorphic cellular infiltrates containing aggregates of CD10(+) T-cells. Circulating lymphoplasmacytic/immunoblastic cells showed an early plasma cell immunophenotype on flow cytometric analysis. Combination of these observations indicated that the underlying disorder of this patient was angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL); postmortem pathology was consistent with progression of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Even in the absence of definitive lymph node biopsy, the appearance of the bone marrow and the peripheral blood can lead to the diagnosis of AITL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autopsy
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bone Marrow / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / diagnosis
  • Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy / pathology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / pathology*
  • Male
  • Plasma Cells / pathology*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index