Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology (Jan 2017)

Follicular variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma

  • Archana Lakshmanan,
  • S Annapurneswari,
  • Sheila Nair

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_710_16
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 60, no. 2
pp. 265 – 267

Abstract

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Globally, peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) constitute about 12% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, of which the unspecified category is the most common subtype (30%). Mostly, the unspecified category shows a diffuse pattern of involvement in the lymph nodes. However, rarely, they may show a follicular/nodular pattern mimicking a follicular lymphoma. We report a case of a follicular variant of PTCL, not otherwise specified. This case displayed a striking nodular/follicular pattern with an admixture of small (centrocyte-like) and large (centroblast-like) cells, thus mimicking a follicular lymphoma. The neoplastic cells were strongly positive for both CD3 and CD20. In addition, they were positive for pan T-cell markers and PD-1. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies highlighted a monoclonal T-cell population. Even though this variant of PTCL is very rare, it is important to keep it as a differential for the lymphomas exhibiting nodular pattern.

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