A case of primary cutaneous CD56+, TdT+, CD4+, blastic NK-cell lymphoma in a 19-year-old woman

Am J Dermatopathol. 2002 Feb;24(1):72-5. doi: 10.1097/00000372-200202000-00015.

Abstract

The classification of blastic or blastoid natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma is controversial. Reports of primary cutaneous blastic CD56+ NK-cell lymphoma are rare, which necessitates further clinicopathologic definition of this type of lymphoma. Most CD56+ lymphomas display angiocentric histologic features, especially in Asian patients, and these are mostly associated with the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and with an aggressive clinical course. We report on a young woman with a primary cutaneous blastic NK lymphoma which showed no angiocentric features but showed an unusual immunophenotype; CD56+, TdT+, CD4+, EBV-, and germline configuration of T-cell receptor gene. This unusual lymphoblastic lymphoma seems to have an immature or progenitor NK cell lineage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis
  • CD56 Antigen / analysis
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD56 Antigen
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase