Aggressive NK-cell Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review

To improve the understanding of aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL) and summarize the progress of its diagnosis and treatment.

We retrospectively analyzed a case of a patient who was initially diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma (non-specific type) and later transformed into ANKL through examinations such as bone marrow smear, flow cytometry, Q-mNGS, and pathology. We described the patient's diagnostic and treatment journey and conducted a literature review.

The patient presented with concomitant hemophagocytic syndrome upon admission. After treatment with the HLH-94 regimen, the patient developed tumor lysis syndrome, leading to a sudden onset of ventricular tachycardia and respiratory and cardiac arrest on the third day of admission. Despite aggressive resuscitation efforts, the patient did not survive.

ANKL is rare in the world, and the disease is aggressive, so it is necessary to diagnose early and intervene timely. Bone marrow smear, flow cytometer and Q-mNGS are helpful to identify tumors quickly and determine the direction of diagnosis and treatment. This disease is often accompanied by hemophagocytic syndrome. When the pathogenesis is not clear, it is recommended to treat it with hormone and gamma globulin first, and after clarification, chemotherapy containing L-asparaginase may be added; pay attention to supportive treatment and vigilance against oncolysis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) can be performed as soon as possible, and the application of targeted drugs may further improve the curative effect. In a word, ANKL needs more data statistics and analysis to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.