T cell rich B cell lymphoma (TCRBCL): study of sixteen cases with review of literature

Document Type

Article

Department

Pathology and Microbiology

Abstract

T cell rich B cell lymphoma (TCRBCL) is a recently described variant of diffuse non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), the acronym of which has gained wide acceptance among hematopathologists in a relatively shorter period of time. The recognition of this entity requires immunohistochemical facilities especially on paraffin embedded tissues. TCRBCL is one of the many examples in the diagnostic anatomic pathology which emphasizes the need of immunocytochemistry and availability of this technique at least in referral laboratories. One of the differential diagnosis in this case includes lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (LPHD) which is the most favorable prognostic histologic subtype of Hodgkin's disease (HD) while TCRBCL is an aggressive B Cell NHL and should be treated as high grade large cell lymphoma. The other close differential includes peripheral T cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PTCL). We reported sixteen (16) cases of TcRBCL diagnosed during a period of two and a half years (January 1995 to June 1997). HD and PTCL were the main differential diagnoses in most of these cases. The median age at diagnosis was 39 years and male to female ratio was equal. TCRBCL was nodal in location in 15 cases and a single case in extranodal site presenting as spinal tumor. The mean neoplastic B cell population was 12%, while that of reactive T cells was 82%. A significant polymorphous inflammatory cellular background was noted in 5 cases. Reed-Stenberg like cells were observed in 3 cases. Immunoglobulin light chain restriction studies were performed in fourteen cases and revealed lambda light chains in ten cases while in four cases kappa light chains were present.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology

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