Gamma/Delta T Cell Lymphoma

A 54-year-old woman complained of fever and hepatosplenomegaly. The pathological findings of a liver biopsy specimen revealed the infiltration of lymphocytes in the sinusoids and that of the laparoscopically resected spleen revealed the infiltration of lymphocytes in the red pulp, which was positive for CD3, CD43, CD45RO and T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1) and was negative for βF1, while the white pulp was spared. Genetic analysis of the spleen cells revealed the rearrangement of T-cell receptor (TCR) Cβ1, Jδ1 and Jγ. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomic DNA was detected in the spleen cells. Atypical lymphocytes appeared in the peripheral blood and bone marrow, chromosomal analysis revealed del (13) (q12 q14), trisomy 8 and breakage of RB gene. Elevated level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was observed. Hepatosplenic γδ T cell lymphoma (GDTL) was diagnosed. The patient was treated with chemotherapy by cyclophosphamide, hydroxydoxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (CHOP), however, it was ineffective, and the patient died of hemorrhage from the lymphoma involvement of the intestine 5 months after the onset of disease.