Immunophenotypic analysis of myeloperoxidase-negative leukemia cutis and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm

Am J Clin Pathol. 2012 Mar;137(3):367-76. doi: 10.1309/AJCP9IS9KFSVWKGH.

Abstract

Myeloid leukemia cutis (LC) and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) are morphologically indistinguishable malignancies that frequently manifest in the skin. Separating myeloperoxidase-negative LC from BPDCN may be particularly challenging. We identified a panel of immunohistochemical stains to distinguish myeloid LC (23 cases) from BPDCN (12 cases): myeloperoxidase, which stained 7 cases (30%) of LC and 0 cases (0%) of BPDCN; CD56, which stained 12 cases (52%) of LC and all 12 cases (100%) of BPDCN; CD4, which stained 2 cases (9%) of LC and all 12 cases (100%) of BPDCN; CD123, which stained 4 cases (17%) of LC and 10 cases (83%) of BPDCN; and Tcl-1, which stained 2 cases (9%) of LC and 9 (82%) of 11 cases of BPDCN. It is interesting that CD33 was not helpful; it stained 18 (78%) cases of LC and 11 cases (92%) of BPDCN. Our results indicate that a panel that includes CD4, CD56, CD123, and Tcl-1 can appropriately distinguish between these 2 entities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD56 Antigen / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dendritic Cells / enzymology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / enzymology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Plasma Cell / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms, Plasma Cell / enzymology
  • Neoplasms, Plasma Cell / immunology
  • Peroxidase / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD56 Antigen
  • Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TCL1A protein, human
  • Peroxidase