Hepatosplenic and hepatocytotropic T-cell lymphoma: two distinct types of T-cell lymphoma in dogs

Vet Pathol. 2013 Mar;50(2):281-90. doi: 10.1177/0300985812451625. Epub 2012 Jun 18.

Abstract

The clinical, clinicopathologic, and pathological findings of 9 dogs with T-cell lymphoma that involved the liver in the absence of peripheral lymphadenopathy were assessed. Seven dogs had hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HS-TCL). Dogs with HS-TCL presented with hepato- and/or splenomegaly, regenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hypoproteinemia. The clinical course was rapidly progressive with all dogs but 1 dead within 24 days of initial presentation. Neoplastic lymphocytes were centered on hepatic and splenic sinusoids and had a CD3+ (5/7), TCRαβ- (5/5), TCRγδ+ (3/5), CD11d+ (6/7), granzyme B+ (5/7) immunophenotype. Bone marrow and lungs were consistently but variably involved. These findings closely resemble the human disease and support the classification of HS-TCL as a distinct World Health Organization entity in dogs. The remaining 2 dogs markedly differed in the pattern of hepatic involvement by neoplastic lymphocytes, which were not confined to hepatic sinusoids but invaded hepatic cords. In addition, neoplastic cells had a CD11d- immunophenotype, and clinicopathologic data indicated marked cholestasis and mild to absent anemia. Based on the distinct tropism of neoplastic lymphocytes for hepatocytes, the name hepatocytotropic T-cell lymphoma (HC-TCL) is proposed. Given the histomorphologic, clinicopathologic, and immunophenotypic differences, HC-TCL likely represents a separate biological entity rather than a histomorphologic variant of HS-TCL.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Dog Diseases / classification*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology*
  • Dogs
  • Flow Cytometry / veterinary
  • Hepatocytes / pathology*
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Immunophenotyping / veterinary
  • Liver Neoplasms / classification
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / classification
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / veterinary*
  • Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
  • Splenic Neoplasms / classification
  • Splenic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Splenic Neoplasms / veterinary*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal