[Large granular lymphocyte CD3+CD56+ Leukemia revealed by ocular tumor]

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Large granular lymphocyte leukemia (LGL) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder of T-cells or NK-cells.
• The common T-cell variant (LGL-T) is characterized by CD3+, CD8+, CD16+, CD57+, and CD56- immunophenotype.
• LGL leukemia typically presents as a chronic condition with neutropenia or autoimmune complications.

Observation:

• A 44-year-old female patient presented with an aggressive form of LGL leukemia.
• This specific case exhibited an unusual immunophenotype, notably expressing CD56.
• CD56 is typically negative in the common LGL-T subtype.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with an aggressive variant of LGL-T leukemia.
• The leukemia cells expressed CD56, deviating from the usual immunophenotype.
• This finding highlights the phenotypic diversity within LGL leukemia.

Implications:

• The presence of CD56 in aggressive LGL-T leukemia may indicate distinct biological behavior.
• Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance and prognostic value of CD56 expression in LGL leukemia.
• This case expands the known spectrum of LGL leukemia variants and their immunophenotypic characteristics.