Abstract
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare tumor comprising around 10-15% of childhood lymphomas. We describe the case of a female who initially presented with localized skin disease associated with an insect bite. However, she subsequently relapsed with widespread systemic ALK-positive ALCL that included lymphoma deposits in the myocardium, a very rare manifestation. Her disease responded well to chemotherapy but she later developed a fatal relapse in the CNS. We also present data on an immune response to ALK, demonstrating a fluctuation in the levels of circulating antibodies to ALK corresponding to the different phases of her illness.
(c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
MeSH terms
-
Adolescent
-
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
-
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
-
Central Nervous System Neoplasms / drug therapy
-
Central Nervous System Neoplasms / genetics
-
Central Nervous System Neoplasms / pathology*
-
Disease Progression
-
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
-
Fatal Outcome
-
Female
-
Heart Neoplasms / drug therapy
-
Heart Neoplasms / genetics
-
Heart Neoplasms / pathology*
-
Humans
-
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / genetics
-
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / pathology*
-
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / therapy
-
Myocardium
-
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / biosynthesis
-
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
-
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / immunology
-
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis
-
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
-
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology
-
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
-
Skin Neoplasms / genetics
-
Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
-
Skin Neoplasms / surgery
Substances
-
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
-
ALK protein, human
-
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
-
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
-
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases