Natural killer cell lymphoma of the small intestine: diagnosis by flow cytometric immunophenotyping of paracentesis fluid.

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma is a mass-forming neoplasm of putative NK cell lineage that typically appears in extranodal locations and has the following immunophenotype: CD2 positive, surface CD3 negative, cytoplasmic CD3 positive, and CD56 positive. We report a case of small-intestinal NK cell lymphoma that was originally diagnosed as an enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma based on paraffin immunohistochemistry. However, subsequent flow cytometric immunophenotyping of paracentesis fluid resulted in the correct diagnosis. We describe the case to illustrate the usefulness of this technique, which has not previously been described in such a case.

• Authors: C H Dunphy
• Journal: Diagnostic cytopathology (Diagn Cytopathol) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 246-8 (Apr 1999) ISSN: 8755-1039 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10204111 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD (analysis)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Immunophenotyping (methods)
• Intestinal Neoplasms (pathology)
• Killer Cells, Natural (pathology)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (pathology)
• Paracentesis