'Sezary-like' cells in malignant and non-malignant diseases

Lymphocyte-like distinctive cells with cerebriform and serpentiform nuclei, as described in 'Sézary syndrome' were detected in the peripheral blood of two patients, one with plasma-cell leukemia and one with bacterial sepsis. These observations suggest that 'Sézary cells' are not strictly specific, neither for a neoplastic nor for a nonneoplastic disease, but rather representing a reactive form of lymphocytes to different stimuli.