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http://dx.doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2022.54.1.68

Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma with Polyclonal Proliferation of Plasma Cells: A Cautionary Note for Flow Cytometry Interpretations  

Shin, Woo Yong (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
Bang, Hae In (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
Kim, Jung-Ah (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
Kim, Jieun (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
Park, Rojin (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science / v.54, no.1, 2022 , pp. 68-72 More about this Journal
Abstract
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of mature T follicular helper cells. Atypical lymphoid cells were observed in the bone marrow of an 80-year-old woman, and the flow cytometric determined immunophenotypes of B-cells were unusual, that is, CD19+, CD20-, and CD22- with lambda light chain restriction. Initially, we suspected BM involvement of B-cell lymphoma based on the presence of abnormal B-cells. However, the patient was diagnosed with AITL involving BM. A re-analysis of flow cytometric immunophenotyping revealed a minor, aberrant T-cell population, and the lambda light chain restriction observed by surface staining was considered non-specific binding. This case demonstrates B-cells in patients with EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma may exhibit immunophenotypes resembling those of plasma cells, and that proliferation of abnormal B-cells or plasma cells could also potentially mask underlying T-cell lymphoma. A more integrated approach is required for accurate diagnosis.
Keywords
Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma; B-cell; Flow cytometry; Immunophenotyping; Plasma cells;
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