Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma presenting as a bladder neoplasm

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is known to involve the bladder, either primarily or secondary. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma has not been documented at this site before. We report a case of a systemic anaplastic cell lymphoma in a 22-year-old man who presented with multisystemic symptoms and signs, including those suggestive of bladder disease. He was HIV-negative. Biopsy of the bladder showed a high grade lymphoma composed of large cells with nuclei containing prominent nucleoli. The tumor cells expressed CD30, CD45, EMA and ALK-1. A diagnosis of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, of null cell phenotype was made. The lymph node biopsy showed similar features on hematoxylin and eosin section. The patient was put on a regime of CHOP and is disease-free 33 months after diagnosis.