Abstract |
Monoclonal immunoglobulin-producing lymphomas (immunocytomas, plasmacytomas, and immunoblastomas) constitute 15 to 20% of all cutaneous lymphomas. Their differentiation from polymorphous lymphoplasmacytoid inflammatory or pseudolymphomatous infiltrates may be difficult if sections are stained for a single light chain only. It was the aim of the study to elucidate the ratio of the kappa- to lambda-positive cells in 10 lymphoproliferative, 5 pseudolymphomatous, and 42 inflammatory lymphoplasmacytoid cutaneous infiltrates and to characterize them by the type of Ig (alpha, gamma, mu, kappa, or lambda) synthesized intracellularly. An indirect immunoenzymatic double-labeling method ( alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase) was used for the simultaneous demonstration of kappa and lambda light chains and alpha, gamma, and mu heavy chains in paraffin sections. Ig-producing lymphomas of the skin show patchy monoclonal proliferations of cells synthesizing kappa IgM in almost 50% of the cases (5 of 10). Monoclonality is claimed if the ratio of lambda- to kappa-positive cells is at least 1:10, or vice versa. In polyclonal inflammatory and pseudolymphomatous infiltrates, the lambda/kappa ratio never exceeds 1:5. The most common cell type found in these reactive infiltrates produces gamma heavy chain; some produce alpha chain, but only a few produce mu chain. In high-grade malignant lymphomas, the tumor cells may lose their capacity for Ig production.
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Authors | G Burg, H Kerl, P Kaudewitz, O Braun-Falco, D Y Mason |
Journal | The Journal of dermatologic surgery and oncology
(J Dermatol Surg Oncol)
Vol. 10
Issue 4
Pg. 284-90
(Apr 1984)
ISSN: 0148-0812 [Print] United States |
PMID | 6423709
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
- Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains
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Topics |
- B-Lymphocytes
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
(analysis)
- Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains
(analysis)
- Lymphoma
(enzymology, immunology, pathology)
- Plasmacytoma
(enzymology, immunology, pathology)
- Skin Neoplasms
(enzymology, immunology, pathology)
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