Mature T-Cell leukemias: Challenges in Diagnosis

Abstract

T-cell clones can frequently be identified in peripheral blood. It can be difficult to appreciate whether these are benign and transient or whether they signify a clonal disorder. We review factors that aid in understanding the relevance of T-cell clones. Conversely, obvious pathological T-cell clones can be detected in blood, but there is uncertainty in how to categorize this clonal T cell population, thus, we adopt a multidisciplinary review of the clinical features, diagnostic material and radiology before making the diagnosis. In this review we shall discuss some of these challenges faced when diagnosing mature T-cell leukemias.

Keywords: T cell lymphoma; T-PLL; T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia; adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL); diagnostics; large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia; mature T and NK-cell neoplasms.