Leukaemic Presentation of Small-Cell Alk-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in a Young Woman—Report of a Case with 9-Year Survival

Abstract

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with leukaemic presentation (either ab initio or along the course of the disease) has been rarely reported. Irrespective of ALK expression in the neoplastic cells, it features a dismal prognosis. We report a rare case of leukaemic, small cell variant ALK-positive ALCL with 9-year survival in a young woman who was treated upfront with corticosteroids and standard chemotherapy, and review thoroughly the previously published cases. Such an unexpected, good outcome hints at the existence of different clinical subgroups in the leukaemic variant of ALK-positive ALCL.

Keywords

• anaplastic large cell lymphoma
• leukaemic
• ALK positive survival
• case report