[Search-frames]

[Search-no frames]

[UCHC Home]

[©]

[Feed Back]

[About]

Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (Precursor T or B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma)

Etiology: • Unknown

Pathogenesis: • Immunophenotype of immature thymic lymphocytes usually T cell type but occasional B cell neoplasms are seen • T cell receptor gene rearrangement of beta chain in >95% of cases

Epidemiology: • Teenage boys (2:1 male:female) with mediastinal mass (>50%) and early involvement of bone marrow and meninges • Most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood

General Gross Description: • Large, usually fleshy occasionally fibrotic masses with areas of hemorrhage

General Microscopic Description: • Diffuse infiltrate of large cells with little cytoplasm • Nuclei are lobulated with finely granular chromatin and inconspicuous nucleolus • Abundant mitotic rate • Numerous tingible body macrophages containing lymphocyte debris are seen scattered throughout giving the low power "starry sky" appearance • Mark with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt), CD1, CD2, CD5 and CD7.

Clinical Correlations: • Most disease above the diaphragm and patients present secondary to symptoms from the anterior mediastinal mass including effusions, superior vena cava syndrome, and/or airway obstruction • Responsive to aggressive multi-agent chemotherapy

References: • Cotran RS, et.al. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease 5th edition. W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 641. • Jaffe ES, Surgical Pathology of the Lymph Nodes and related organs, second edition, W.B. Saunders, 1995, pp. 306-312.