Endocrine characterization of primary mediastinal lymphoma

Because of the characteristic presentation of primary mediastinal large cell lymphoma (PMLCL) in young females its known origin from thymic B-cells, there might be a role in lymphomagenesis for estrogen receptors as well as for known neuroendocrine thymic mediators. A retrospective review of all patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma seen at our institution from January 1985 to January 1994 revealed 75 consecutive cases with a diagnosis of PMLCL. Through retrieval from our pathologic archives and requests to outside pathologists, we recovered and analyzed 17 biopsy specimens for the presence of the following hormone receptors: estrogen, beta endorphin, prolactin, T3, growth hormone, and leutinizing hormone. None of the specimens stained for any of the reagents. The most plausible explanation is that PMLCL tissues are devoid of these hormonal receptors and thus these receptors do not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of PMLCL.