Unusually indolent T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia associated with a complex karyotype: Is this T‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

• Published in: American journal of hematology Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 224 - 226
• Main Authors: Soma, Lorinda, Cornfield, Dennis B., Prager, David, Nowell, Peter, Bagg, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-11-2002; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; complex karyotype; Cytogenetic Analysis; Diagnosis, Differential; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; indolent; Karyotyping; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic - diagnosis; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic - genetics; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic - physiopathology; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell - genetics; Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell - physiopathology; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Medical sciences; T‐CLL; T‐PLL; Chromosomal aberration; Human; T-PLL; Clinical form; Male; Malignant hemopathy; Case study; Chronic; indolent; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Low malignancy; Cytogenetics; Deletion; Abnormal chromosome; Genetics; Abnormal chromosome C11; Abnormal chromosome C10; Elderly; Karyotype; Chromosome inversion; Prolymphocytic leukemia; T-CLL; complex karyotype
• ISSN: 0361-8609; 1096-8652
• DOI: 10.1002/ajh.10221

T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T‐PLL) is typically associated with an aggressive clinical course, with a median survival of less than 1 year. We report a case of T‐PLL that displays multiple cytogenetic abnormalities, with the most complex subclone having the following karyotype: 47, Y, −X, +8, inv (10) (p12q26), del (11) (p13p15) +marker. However, despite this genetic complexity, the leukemia has behaved in a remarkably indolent manner, with the patient remaining asymptomatic, without therapeutic intervention, for more than 7 years. The unusually benign behavior of this disease calls into question the validity of grouping such cases under the umbrella of T‐PLL and warrants a reconsideration of T‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (no longer recognized as a distinct disease) as a bona fide diagnostic entity. Am. J. Hematol. 71:224–226, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.