Conjunctival T-cell lymphoma caused by human T-cell lymphotrophic virus infection

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2001-03, Vol.131 (3), p.381-383
• Main Authors: Buggage, Ronald R, Smith, Janine A, Shen, DeFen, Chan, Chi-Chao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; Conjunctival Neoplasms - diagnosis; Conjunctival Neoplasms - virology; DNA, Neoplasm - analysis; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte - genetics; Genes, gag - genetics; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - genetics; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - isolation & purification; Humans; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell - virology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Medical sciences; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - genetics
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(00)00865-5

PURPOSE: To examine the cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. METHODS: We examined a conjunctival biopsy from a 29-year-old Jamaican man who developed bilateral conjunctival masses. Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma was diagnosed using routine histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, microdissection, and the polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination revealed a conjunctival lymphoma. Clonality of the T-cell receptor gamma gene and human T-cell lymphotrophic virus gag gene were detected in the malignant cells. The demonstration of the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus gene and the rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gene in this neoplasm provide proof that human T-cell lymphotrophic virus is the cause of this conjunctival T-cell lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus is the cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, an aggressive malignancy of CD4+ lymphocytes.