Abstract

Cytogenetic abnormalities seen at presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/ LBL) are associated with distinct clinical and hematologic disease entities. T-ALL/LBL are morphologically indistinguishable from those of B-ALL/LBL. An abnormal kariotype is found in 50-70% of cases of T-ALL/LBL. We present a 35-year old male patient with T-ALL/LBL and t(8;14)(q24;q11.2). Our patient presented with B-symptoms, bulky mediastinal disease and CNS infiltration. Bone marrow was morphologically normal and cytogenetically without clonal aberrations. Cytological findings of the supraclavicular lymph node showed numerous CD3 positive (100%) and CD2 positive (88%) lymphoblasts, negative for CD34 and CD10. Flow cytometry of lymph node revealed T cell phenotype of immature cells: CD45+CD2+CD5+CD7+CD4+CD8+CD3cyt +CD3TdT+CD10-CD34-HLAD/DR-. Cytogenetic analysis of lymph node showed translocation t(1;4)(p32;p12), t(8;14)(q24;q11.2). Southern blot analysis of extracted DNA from the supraclavicular lymph node demonstrated clonal rearrangement of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR/J) gene (region Vb+Jb2). Based on these findings, diagnosis of T lymphoblastic non Hodgkin lymphoma was established. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed CNS infiltration with 49% lymphoblasts positive for CD4 and CD8. The disease progressed rapidly with poor response to therapy. T-ALL/LBL with an unusual t(8;14)(q24;q11.2) is a very rare hematologic disorder with rapid disease progression and poor response to conventional therapy because of frequent central nervous system involvement and early relapses.