[Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: expression of cytotoxic-granule-associated protein TIA-1 and its relation with Epstein-Barr virus infection]

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features, the expression of cytotoxic-granule-associated protein TIA-1 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL).

Methods: Totally 17 cases of SPTCL were studied. Immunohistochemical staining was done for TIA-1, CD45RO, CD3, CD20 and CD68, and in situ hybridization for EBV encoded small nuclear RNA (EBER1/2).

Results: In the 17 cases of SPTCL, the ratio of male-to-female was 1:1.1 and the median age was 24 years old. The main clinical manifestations were asymptomatic plaques, nodules and masses. Histologically, the pattern of lymphoid cells infiltration was panniculitis. The infiltrated lymphoid cells were pleomorphic and their mitotic figures were few (0 - 2/hpt). In the tumor tissue, there might be epithilioid granulomas, multinuclear cells, beanbag cells, small pieces of necrosis and small vessels with lymphoid cells infiltration in the vascular wall. Immunohistochemically, all the cases showed a T-cell phenotype and the expression rate of TIA-1 was 100% (16/16). By in situ hybridization, the positive rate of EBV-EBER1/2 was 29.4% (5/17).

Conclusions: SPTCL has a specific histopathologic picture. It may originate from cytotoxic T lymphocytes or NK cells. Some of them may be accompanying with EBV latent infection.