Primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma mimicking meningoencephalomyelitis in a cat

Abstract

A cat was presented with right head tilt and circling. The lack of expression of virus antigens did not support the postmortem diagnosis of encephalomyelitis pointing to a diffuse primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma on the basis of CD3 and CD45R co-expression with absence of CD79α staining.

Figure 1

Dorsal T1-weighted MR images at the level of the corpus callosum. Compression of the right lateral ventricle in the temporal cortex without formation of a well-defined mass (arrows). L — left side.

Figure 2

Cervical spinal cord. Thick perivascular cuffs together with a diffuse infiltrate of lymphoid cells and gliosis are seen in the white matter. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Bar = 200 μm. (Inset) — Higher magnification of a thick perivascular cuff. H&E. Bar = 50 μm.

Figure 3

Brain. Serial sections of a perivascular cuff area. Note that the same cells are stained in both (A) and (B) (arrows). A — Lymphoid cells displaying a strong membranous and cytoplasmatic staining with CD3 antibody. Peroxidase antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method. Bar = 100 μm. B — Lymphoid cells displaying a strong membranous and cytoplasmatic staining with CD45R antibody. Avidin-biotin peroxidase immunohistochemical method. Bar = 100 μm.