[Pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma. The diagnostic problems, therapeutic possibilities and infection-induced complications]

A 30-year-old man complained of high fever, resistant to antibiotics, and progressive loss of strength for five weeks. The peripheral blood showed pancytopenia (leucocytes 2200/microliters, platelets 45,000/microliters, haemoglobin 10.7 g/dl). There was also hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal lymph node enlargement, pleural and pericardial effusions and slight excess of lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Histological examination of the bone marrow suggested a small-cell pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma, but Hodgkin's disease was also considered. Splenectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis and treat the pancytopenia. The blood count rapidly returned to normal and the suggestion of Hodgkin's disease was excluded. Intensive chemotherapy (BMFT-ALL protocol) was followed by regression of nearly all the abnormalities, but marrow infiltration persisted. This treatment was discontinued after phase II of induction. After an intercurrent cytomegalovirus infection maintenance treatment with alpha-interferon (up to 5 million units daily) was started. The partial remission remained stable for 22 months. The lymphoma then relapsed but was held in check by further chemotherapy (Dexa-PAMB protocol). For the past 11 months the patient has remained in stable partial remission on treatment with alpha-interferon (3 million units every other day). Frequent infections (sinusitis, diarrhoea, abscess) require close supervision.