Peripheral T-cell lymphoma with follicular involvement and a CD4+/bcl-6+ phenotype

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Follicular growth patterns are traditionally associated with B-cell lymphomas.
• Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of a follicular growth pattern in nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas.
• To expand the differential diagnosis of lymphomas exhibiting follicular architecture.

Main Methods:

• Histopathological examination of lymph node biopsies.
• Immunohistochemical staining for lymphoma cell markers (CD4, CD8, CD57, bcl-6, CD10).
• T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement analysis.

Main Results:

• Three cases of nodal PTCL demonstrated a prominent follicular growth pattern.
• Neoplastic T cells were CD4+ CD8- CD57- with bcl-6 expression and CD10 coexpression in two cases.
• Clonal T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement confirmed the T-cell origin.

Conclusions:

• Neoplastic T cells can induce or home to follicular structures, mimicking B-cell lymphomas.
• This finding broadens the spectrum of lymphomas presenting with a follicular pattern.
• Consider PTCL in the differential diagnosis of follicular lymphomas.