Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma, Lymphoepithelioid Cell Type - Report of A Case Mimicking Tuberculous Lymphadenitis -

림프유상피형 말초 T세포 림프종의 세침흡인 세포학적 소견 - 결핵성 림프절염과 감별이 어려웠던 1예 -

The diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma is difficult due to the varying size and shape of the neoplastic lymphoid cells and the frequent admixture of nonneoplastic mature lymphyocytes, histiocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells. We report a case of peripheral T cell lymphoma, lymphoepithelioid ceil type, which was difficult to differentiate from tuberculous lymphadenitis due to the aggregates of epithelioid histlocytes mimicking granuloma and the past history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the inguinal lymph node in a 63-year-old male was characterized by hypercellular aspirates composed of a mixture of small and intermediate-size lymphoid cells and large lymphoid cells with background of confluent epithelioid histiocytes. The neoplastic lymphocytes demonstrated significant nuclear irregularity with protrusion and indentations of the nuclear membrane, prominent nucleoli, and frequent mitotic figures. The diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma was confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical studios.