Aggressive natural killer cell lymphoma/leukemia.

Abstract

We report a case of aggressive natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma/leukemia in a 70-year-old woman presenting with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, and elevated serum CA19-9. The patient died 4 days after diagnosis. Neoplastic NK cells were identified in the blood and retroperitoneal lymph node biopsy. Their phenotypes were confirmed by extensive flow cytometric and immunohistochemical studies. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated RNA (EBER) was positive. Various forms of NK cell neoplasm were reviewed and discussed.