Large-cell T-lymphoma with hypersegmented nuclei

Clinical, morphological, cytochemical and immunological features in a case of T-lymphoma in a 67-year-old man are presented. Clinically, a predilection for lymph nodes was observed with a subsequent tumour-like spread to the liver, lungs and, to a minor extent, to the bone marrow. The skin, the spleen and the thymus were spared. Morphologically, the neoplastic lymphoid cells were characterized by their large size and particularly by their hypersegmented nuclei with a relatively coarse chromatin and large nucleoli. Cytochemically, a T-cell-like staining pattern in the acid phosphatase and in the acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase stains was absent. The neoplastic lymphocytes demonstrated a strong binding with sheep erythrocytes in suspension and in cryostat tissue sections. The morphological features of this lymphoma appear distinct from other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The similarities and the differences of our case in relation to some recently described cases of peripheral T-lymphomas comprising large cells with hyperlobated nuclei, are discussed.