A case of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture: an extremely unusual presentation

Virchows Arch. 2000 Oct;437(4):459-64. doi: 10.1007/s004280000251.

Abstract

In a 22-year-old male with a 10-day history of fever, painful swelling in the left groin, and abdominal complaints, emergency surgery was performed because of spontaneous splenic rupture. At histology, a cellular infiltrate of intermediate-sized atypical lymphocytes was seen in the splenic white pulp, staining for T-cell markers. In addition, CD30 and anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 (ALK) were diffusely positive, thus, representing a case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), T-cell, ALK-positive, small cell monomorphic variant. ALK-positive ALCL patients generally bear a much better prognosis than patients with T-cell lymphomas, unspecified, or ALK-negative ALCL. Therefore, besides the very unusual clinical presentation, this case highlights the importance of immunostaining for CD30 and ALK in all T-cell lymphomas. This report is the first extensive description of ALK-positive ALCL involvement of the spleen.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ki-1 Antigen / analysis
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / enzymology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology*
  • Male
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / analysis*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Splenic Rupture / etiology*

Substances

  • Ki-1 Antigen
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases