Aggressive Natural Killer-Cell Leukemia: report of five cases and review of the literature

Leuk Lymphoma. 2004 Dec;45(12):2427-38. doi: 10.1080/10428190400004513.

Abstract

We report 5 cases of Aggressive Natural Killer-Cell Leukemia (ANKL) diagnosed and treated in our institution within a period of 5 years. Presented are the clinical, hematological, immunophenotypic, immunogenotypic and cytogenetic data. ANKL is a very rare disorder. On review of the English-language literature only 68 published cases were identified. Analysis was performed on a total number of 73 cases (68 from the literature and the series of 5 presented hereby). Presented and discussed are the epidemiology, clinical picture, morphology, cell marker, immunogenotype, cytogenetics, and survival data of the analysis, as well as the associations with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). To our knowledge this is the largest series of cases of ANKL analyzed and therefore it is hoped to contribute towards a better characterization of the disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Leukemia / epidemiology
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Survival Rate