Primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma resembling lymphomatous polyposis: report of a case

We report an interesting case of primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma (ITL) r esembling lymphomatous polyposis (LP) in a 24-year-old man. The neoplasm ma croscopically showed numerous small polyps throughout the colon and microsc opically showed diffuse proliferation of small-sized tumor cells with occas ionally cleaved or irregularly shaped nuclei. The tumor cells were immunohi stochemically positive for CD3, CD8, TIA-1, and CD56, and a polymerase chai n reaction study showed a single band, indicating monoclonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor beta gene. The phenotypic features in the current ca se are consistent with those of ITL derived from cytotoxic CD56+CD8+ intrae pithelial lymphocytes. This is the second documented case of primary TTL Wi th a morphologic pattern of LP.