IMPRINT CYTOLOGY OF LOW-GRADE B-CELL LYMPHOMA OF MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID-TISSUE ARISING IN THE THYMUS - A CASE-REPORT

Low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) arising in the thymus is a very rare tumor with characteristic morphol ogic features. We describe a case of thymic low-grade B-cell MALT lymp homa occuring in a 59-yr-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome, in whom th e definite diagnosis was difficult at the time of surgery. An immunohi stologic and genotypic study, however, was diagnostic of lymphoma. A r eview of cytologic material was undertaken, and it was felt that the c ytologic features in Giemsa-stained preparations in imprint smears wer e present that initially should have enabled the correct cytodiagnosis and distinction from the other thymic lesions. The findings presented in this study were considered to contribute to the cytodiagnosis of a thymic lesion, which might, in the past, have been erroneously interp reted as another lymphoproliferative disorder. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, In c.