Hodgkin-like peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) with preserved Hodgkin-like lesions at autopsy: a case report with an interesting clinical course

Abstract

The presence of the so-called Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) like cells may occur in T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Reported herein is the autopsy case of Hodgkin-like peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in a 77-year-old male with gradual submandibular lymph node enlargement. The first biopsy showed Hodgkin-like PTCL, initially misdiagnosed as classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Although he was treated with a regimen of ABVD, his disease recurred with cervical lymph node enlargement. A second biopsy showed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and H-RS like cells became obscure. Despite treatment with the CHOP regimen, he died. An autopsy confirmed that only Hodgkin-like lesions preserved while the AITL component had disappeared. This clinical course is very interesting in that only the Hodgkin-like lesions were systematically exacerbated and became the main cause of death. There are no reports of Hodgkin-like PTCL following AITL and finally preserved Hodgkin-like lesions in autopsy.

Keywords: Autopsy; Epstein-Barr virus; Hodgkin-like peripheral T-cell lymphoma.