Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma associated with granular lymphocytic leukemia in its terminal stage

Subcutaneous panniculitis by Epstein-Barr virus-infected natural killer (NK) cell proliferation terminating in aggressive subcutaneous NK cell lymphoma

We describe here a case involving a patient presenting initially with subcutaneous panniculitis, which developed after 12 years into aggressive subcutaneous natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma with peripheral blood involvement and hemophagocytosis. The surface marker of lymphoid cells in peripheral blood was CD2+3-7+8-16+56+. Skin biopsies were taken in May 1986 and June 1998. The initial biopsy revealed a diffuse proliferation of atypical lymphoid cells in the subcutaneous tissue with panniculitis, while the second biopsy revealed the presence of large lymphoid cells in the subcutaneous tissue with necrotic changes, consistent with a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (diffuse pleomorphic type). The lymphoid cells from these two specimens were positive for CD56 and such cytotoxic molecules as T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1), granzyme B, and, interestingly, also positive for Epstein-Barr (EB) virus by in situ hybridization. This suggests that chronic EB virus infections play an important role in the early stages of tumorigenesis and in the progression of NK cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

T-cell lymphoma of CD3+CD4+CD56+granular lymphocytes with hemophagocytic syndrome

A case of T-cell lymphoma of granular lymphocyte (GL) morphology and CD3+CD4+CD56+ phenotype is reported. The lymphoma originated in the subcutaneous tisse of the right thigh and subsequently infiltrated into various organs including the lymph nodes, peripheral blood, bone marrow, skin, lungs, liver, spleen, and peritoneal cavity, and the patient finally developed a hemophagocytic syndrome. The lymphoma cells were positive for CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD56, and negative for CD8, CD16, CD20, and CD57. An identical clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor beta chain genes was detected in cells from a lymph node, peripheral blood, and ascites fluid, indicating the monoclonal proliferation of T cells in such organs. This is a T-cell GL lymphoma, expressing the unusual phenotype of CD3+CD4+CD8-CD16-CD56+, which has not been previously reported. The development of hemophagocytic syndrome has also to our knowledge not previously been reported in T-cell GL lymphoma.

Lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes

We report a case of lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes that was associated with cutaneous manifestations. Marker studies of skin and blood in this patient revealed that the circulating and infiltrating cells were negative for CD3 and T-cell antigen receptor but were positive for CD16, CD56, and CD57, suggesting natural killer cell origin. The patient had a rapidly progressive course and died within 1 month of presentation.

Aggressive natural killer cell leukaemia/lymphoma in two patients with lethal midline granuloma

We report two patients with leukaemic proliferations of large granular lymphocytes. The immunophenotype study showed that the leukaemic cells were positive for CD2, CD38, CD56 and anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies and negative for other T-cell (CD3, CD4, CD8) and B-cell markers (CD19, CD20 and surface immunoglobulins). The clinical course was acute and a diagnosis of aggressive natural killer cell leukaemia/lymphoma was made. No clonal rearrangements of either C beta T-cell receptor or JH immunoglobulin genes were found. Functional studies done in one patient demonstrated non-restricted cytotoxic activity after activation with IL-2. Lethal midline granuloma had been previously diagnosed in both patients. A possible relationship between this entity and the natural killer cell leukaemia is discussed.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorder of granular lymphocytes presenting initially as cutaneous vasculitis

Lymphoproliferative disorders of granular lymphocytes (LDGL) represent a family of diseases characterized by persistent granular lymphocytosis with variable prognosis. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been occasionally linked with the development of LDGL. However, cutaneous manifestations of LDGL have rarely been reported. One patient had cutaneous vasculitis for 10 years before a definite diagnosis of LDGL was made. Chronic EBV infection was documented serologically and EBV DNA was detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes. EBV RNA was detected in the nuclei of infiltrating lymphoid cells expressing CD43 in a skin biopsy specimen. A cytogenetic study showed clonal chromosomal abnormalities. This is the first report of EBV-associated LDGL of natural killer cells with cutaneous manifestations.