Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: further evidence for a distinct neoplasm originating from large granular lymphocytes of T/NK phenotype

J Cutan Pathol. 1998 Aug;25(7):394-400. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1998.tb01764.x.

Abstract

We report the case of a 20 year-old caucasian woman who presented a primary subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) as an invasive tumor of the chest wall. Herein, the neoplastic cells were found to express a CD3+CD8+ phenotype but also displayed variably the natural killer (NK)-associated antigens CD56 and CD57 as well as granzyme B. On cytological examination, these cells showed a large granular lymphocyte (LGL)-like morphology with presence of azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Electron dense and membrane bound granules like those found in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were also demonstrated by electron microscopy. Neither rearrangement of the T-cell receptor subunits nor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome was observed at the molecular level. The LGL-like features of the neoplastic cells found in this case and the presence of NK-associated antigens provide additional support to the cytotoxic derivation of most SPTCL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / ultrastructure
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Panniculitis / metabolism
  • Panniculitis / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / ultrastructure
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor