[Clinicopathologic features and diagnosis of 18 patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma]

Abstract

Objective: To explore the clinical and pathologic features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma(AITL) and provide evidence for diagnosis.

Methods: Eighteen AITL patients (9 males and 9 females aged from 14 to 70 years) were retrospectively analyzed in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 2002 to September 2007.

Results: Characteristic features at the presentation of AITL included generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, splenomegaly, and skin rashes with polyclonal hyper-gammaglobulinemia and other hematological abnormalities (such as Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia), which often involved the bone marrow and had well-described histologic features. The positive rate for CXCL13 was 93.3%.

Conclusion: Repeated lymphadenbiopsy is helpful for AITL diagnosis. Routine histological and immunohistochemical examinations (especially including CXCL13) play significant role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of AITL.