Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with immunologic phenotype similar to non-T, non-B acute lymphocytic leukemia

A diagnosis of diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma was made from a biopsy of a scapular mass on a 24-month-old child. The bone marrow and peripheral blood were not involved in the neoplastic process. Neoplastic cells stained negatively for Sudan black B, myeloperoxidase, periodic acid-Schiff reagent, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and acid phosphatase. In addition, neoplastic cells did not form nonimmune rosettes with sheep erythrocytes or contain surface membrane immunoglobulin. However, neoplastic cells were positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and "Ia-like" antigen. We conclude that this non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has a cytochemical and immunologic phenotype similar to that of lymphoblasts from cases of non-T, non-B acute lymphocytic leukemia.