Primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma with a predominant CD8 immunophenotype.

Abstract

Primary T-cell lymphomas of the central nervous system are uncommon neoplasms. A case of a primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma in a 66-year-old female who died 8 months after surgery is described. The biopsy specimen was evaluated by routine histology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and Southern blotting/DNA hybridization. The neoplasm was composed of pleomorphic medium and large cells. Virtually all of the neoplastic cells reacted with antibodies to CD3, CD5, and CD8. Multiple rearranged bands were detected with the T-cell receptor beta-chain gene probe. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of a primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma composed of a predominant population of CD8-expressing T cells, and the first case confirmed by Southern blotting/DNA hybridization.