[T lymphoma of immature phenotype associated with polycythemia vera]

A 20-year old patient is presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hyperleukocytosis and a bone marrow biopsy showing panmyelosis with predominance of immature granulocytes. Lymph node biopsy showed a histopathological feature that was diagnosed as a chronic granulocytic leukemia in blast crisis. The cell surface phenotype of these blast cells showed predominance of immature CD1+, CD7+ T lymphocytes. The T cell lineage was confirmed by DNA rearrangement studies. In addition, the patient showed erythrocytosis, arterial O2 saturation of 92% and thrombocytosis, characteristics of polycythemia vera. After chemotherapy, the patient relapsed with similar symptoms and lymph node cells of similar immature T phenotype. With a revised diagnosis of immature T cell lymphoma associated to a myeloproliferative disorder and polyglobulia, the patient received a combined treatment of Cyclophosphamide-Adriamycin-Vincristine-VM26-Prednisone. Two months later, the patient relapsed again. He received the first phase of induction of the BFM protocol, with partial clinical remission. Five months later, the patient returned with fever, polyadenopathy and splenomegaly. Lymph node cells showed again immature T cell phenotype. The patient was next treated with the m-BACOD scheme, with no response and progression of the disease and he died few days later due to massive bleeding and cardiorespiratory failure.