Novel CD19 Expression in a Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma: A Flow Cytometry Case Report with Morphologic Correlation

Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are uncommon lymphomas that show T-cell antigenic loss and clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement. Rare cases of T-cell lymphomas with aberrant expression of CD20 have been described. However, CD19 coexpression in a mature T-cell neoplasm has not been reported. Methods: Histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and PCR for TCR gene rearrangement were performed on an excised lymph node specimen and a subsequent fine needle aspiration (FNA) of an additional lymph node. Flow cytometry (FC) was performed on FNA and peripheral blood specimen. Results: The lymph node's architecture was effaced by a diffuse atypical lymphoid proliferation that, by IHC, was positive for CD3, CD2, and CD43 and negative for CD4, CD5, CD8, TdT, CD1a, and B-cell-associated antigens PAX-5, CD20, and CD79a. A clonal TCR gene rearrangement was detected. FIG was performed on a subsequent FNA, and peripheral blood specimen demonstrated an aberrant T-cell population with expression of CD2, CD3, CD27, TCR alpha/beta, CD52, CD38, CD45, and CD26 (partial expression) and negative for CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD30, and CD56. The aberrant T-cell population also expressed bright CD19. Conclusions: Using FC, we describe the first case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with aberrant coexpression of CD19. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.