EXTRANODAL FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELL TUMOR OF THE NASOPHARYNX

We report the first case of an extranodal follicular dendritic cell (F DC) tumour localized in the nasopharynx of a 44-year-old male patient. The tumour cells were characterized immunohistochemically by strong e xpression of CD21, HLA-DR and vimentin and focal expression of CD68 an d cytokeratin. Electron microscopic examination revealed desmosomal ce ll junctions between adjacent cell processes. Molecular genetic analys is using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed germline configuration of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes were detectable by PCR. After complete surgical tumour remova l and radiotherapy the patient is disease-free 20 months after the ini tial diagnosis.