Journal List > Korean J Hematol > v.44(3) > 1032821

Song, Chung, Hwang, Choi, Yoo, Hong, Ahn, Roh, Lee, Park, Choi, Kim, Lee, and Lee: T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case Report

Abstract

T cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL leukemia) is defined as a clonal proliferative disorder of CD3+ cytotoxic T cells. T-LGL leukemia usually expresses CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD16+, CD56- and CD57+ cell markers, and this represents a rearrangement of the T cell receptor (TCR) gene. The clinical course is indolent in most cases, but on rare occasions, when CD3+ and CD56+ are expressed on the leukemic cells, it can be more aggressive. We experienced a patient with T-LGL leukemia and the disease was indolent at the time of diagnosis, and so any specific treatment was not required. Two years after the initial diagnosis, her clinical course became quite aggressive as the CD 56+ cell surface antigen was expressed. We report here on the first case of T-LGL leukemia in Korea and we review the relevant literature.

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Fig. 1.
Peripheral blood smear showing a large granular lymphocyte with intracytoplasmic azurophilic granules (Wright stain, ×100).
kjh-44-139f1.tif
Fig. 2.
(A) Bone marrow aspiration smear showing several large granular lymphocytes (Wright stain, ×1,000). (B) Bone marrow biopsy showing several clumps of large granular lymphocytes (H&E stain, ×40).
kjh-44-139f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Nested polymerase chain reaction for TCRγ gene rearrangement by assay targeting all the functional Vγ and Jγ gene segments. Lane 1, 3, 4 and 6 represents negative controls. Lane 5 is the result of this patient and represents TCRγ gene rearrangement from large granular lymphocyte leukemia (190 bp) (white arrow). Lane 2 is empty. M, molecular weight marker.
kjh-44-139f3.tif
Table 1.
Immunophenotyping result
  Anti CD3 Anti CD4 Anti CD5 Anti CD7 Anti CD8 Anti CD8 Anti CD10 Anti CD13 Anti CD14 Anti CD16 Anti CD19 Anti CD20 Anti CD22 Anti CD33 Anti CD34 Anti CD45 Anti CD56
At diagonosis (+) (+) (+) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (+) (−)
After disease progression (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (−) (+) (+)
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