Hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with leukemic phase successfully treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine

An unusual case of hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with leukemic phase in a 39-year-old woman is reported. At the first presentation she had splenomegaly and pancytopenia diagnosed as hypersplenia treated by splenectomy. Subsequently, she developed hepatomegaly and progressive neoplastic lymphocytosis. The bone marrow showed a sinusoidal infiltrate of medium-sized cells. Flowcytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated expression of CD3, CD7, CD16, CD56 antigens and T-cell receptor gamma delta. A monoclonal TCR gamma- and beta-chain gene rearrangement were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated by traditional chemotherapy and alpha-interferon, unsuccessfully. Therefore, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine was introduced resulting in a complete remission for 6 months. The reported case demonstrates the usefulness of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in treatment of hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma.