Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome terminating as disseminated T-cell lymphoma

Cancer. 1991 Feb 15;67(4):1064-9. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19910215)67:4<1064::aid-cncr2820670433>3.0.co;2-p.

Abstract

The authors describe a case of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) terminated as a T-cell lymphoma in a 3-year-old girl. The clinical course was chronic and characterized by chronic eczema, persistent peripheral blood eosinophilia, organomegaly, interstitial lung change, and pericarditis. Postmortem examination demonstrated a disseminated T-cell lymphoma involving the inguinal lymph node, liver, lung, and kidney. The findings of the current case suggest a possibility that certain abnormalities in this case of idiopathic HES per se may have triggered the development of malignant lymphoma, and it may represent a transition of idiopathic HES into a T-cell lymphoma. Other possible sequences are discussed. The development of T-cell malignancy in idiopathic HES in a girl is quite an unusual presentation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Eczema / complications
  • Eosinophilia / complications*
  • Eosinophilia / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / complications*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology
  • Pericarditis / complications
  • Syndrome