Blastic natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma: report of an unusual CD4 negative case and review of the CD4 negative neoplasms with blastic features in the literature

Leuk Lymphoma. 2004 Oct;45(10):2127-33. doi: 10.1080/10428190410001723232.

Abstract

Blastic Natural Killer (NK)-cell lymphoma is a relatively new entity which has been recently included in the WHO classification. CD4 expression is observed in most cases of blastic NK-cell lymphomas and has been related with skin tropism. We report an unusual CD4 negative blastic NK-cell lymphoma with primary presentation in the skin, subsequent infiltration of the bone marrow and aggressive behavior. It is emphasized that extensive immunophenotyping and EBER RNA in situ hybridization are required in order to establish the diagnosis of blastic NK-cell lymphoma. We also present a review of the literature with respect to the CD4 negative NK-cell lymphomas with blastic morphological features.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blast Crisis
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms
  • CD4 Antigens / analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Vidarabine / adverse effects
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vidarabine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1
  • RNA, Viral
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine