[Occurrence of follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma following chemotherapy for diffuse large cell lymphoma]

A 59-year-old man was admitted in July, 1985 because of generalized lymphadenopathy and hypercalcemia. The biopsy specimen of the left inguinal lymph node showed diffuse large cell lymphoma. He achieved a complete remission (CR) in July, 1986 by CHOP therapy. In January, 1992, he visited the outpatient clinic with splenomegaly, and swelling of the left axillary and left supraclavicular lymph nodes. The biopsy specimen of the axillary lymph node showed follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma. Because the spleen and the lymph nodes regressed after the biopsy, he has been followed up without any specific treatment for lymphoma. Histologic change from low-grade lymphoma into more aggressive histologic pattern is well documented. However the converse phenomenon, occurrence of low-grade lymphoma after intermediate-, or high-grade lymphoma has rarely been reported. Histological examination is mandatory when a patient with diffuse large cell lymphoma is suspected to have relapsing disease after the long-term CR.