Anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma; a developing world experience
Document Type
Article
Department
Pathology and Microbiology
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ALK + DLBCL) is a rare, distinct and aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). These tumors are considered to be derived from post-germinal center B cells but peculiarly their distinction is based on the fact that they are ALK-positive neoplastic B cells but lack expression of B cell markers (CD19,CD20, CD79a), T cell markers (CD3, CD5) and CD30. Its broad differential diagnosis and similarities to plasmablastic lymphoma, immunoblastic DLBCL, Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) of T-null cell lineage, and poorly differentiated/anaplastic carcinoma pose a grave challenge to physicians with conventional costly treatment for DLBCL failing to yield any clinical or prognostic significance in ALK + DLBCL. In this article we present 7 cases which were reported at Aga Khan University Hospital, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from 2009 to 2015 and a review of literature on ALK+ DLBCL, which according to the best of our knowledge is the second largest reported series and the first from South Asian subcontinent.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Pathology research and practice
Recommended Citation
Sala, H.,
Ud Din, N.,
moatter, t.,
Kayani, N.,
Ahmed, A.
(2017). Anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma; a developing world experience. Pathology research and practice, 213(6), 649-653.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_pathol_microbiol/716