Intestinal T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas: A clinicopathological study of 27 Chinese patients

• Published in: Annals of diagnostic pathology 2018-12, Vol.37, p.107-117
• Main Authors: Tang, Xue-Feng, Yang, Li, Duan, Song, Guo, Hong, Guo, Qiao-Nan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Intestine; Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma; NK/T-cell lymphoma; T-Cell lymphoma
• ISSN: 1092-9134; 1532-8198
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2018.10.004

Intestinal T-cell and NK/T- cell lymphomas are rare and aggressive. The diagnosis is quite difficult, especial in biopsy specimens. This study investigates the clinicopathological features of intestinal T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas to aid their differential diagnosis. Clinical data of 27 cases were collected. Including extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL-N), monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, ALK+ (ALCL, ALK+) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). The histologic features, immunohistochemical findings, T-cell receptor gene rearrangement results, and follow-up data were analyzed, with review of literature. The age of the patients (N = 27) was 15-85 years (mean, 47.5 years), and male:female ratio, 3.5:1. Abdominal pain and B symptoms were the most common symptoms. Although 85.2% of the patients were in clinical stage I-II, 59.3% died within 1 year. MEITL showed certain distinctive clinic opathological features from ENKTCL-N. Compared to lesions at other sites, there were no differences in the morphological features, immunophenotype and TCR gene rearrangement of intestinal ENKTCL-N, PTCL, NOS, ALCL, ALK+ and AITL. Intestinal T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of lymphomas. They could be classified to 5 histological subtypes in our study. ENKTCL-N and MEITL formed the majority of the tumor types. Each subtype has distinctive pathological features, but most of them have diamal prognosis. •Intestinal T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of lymphomas.•ENKTCL-N and MEITL formed the majority of the tumor types.•MEITL showed certain distinctive clinicopathological features from ENKTCL-N.•Each type has distinctive features, but most of them have dismal prognosis.