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Pathology and clinical features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma after successful treatment with thalidomide

Leukemia volume 19, pages 873–875 (2005)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a peripheral T-cell lymphoma characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinaemia, skin lesions and B symptoms.1 The clinical outcome of AITL managed by conventional lymphoma protocols remains poor, with a median survival of less than 36 months and a 5-year survival of 30–35%.2, 3, 4 Most of the mortality in AITL is a consequence of profound immune deregulation rather than tumour bulk.1 For this reason, investigators have used immunomodulatory drugs such as cyclosporine5, 6, 7 and thalidomide8 with some success in a handful of cases. Here, we report a case of AITL showing a remarkable sustained response to single-agent treatment with thalidomide and describe the distinctive pathological changes in AITL after thalidomide treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    A Dogan

  2. Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust, Basildon, UK

    L S P Ngu, S H Ng & P L Cervi

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  1. A Dogan
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  2. L S P Ngu
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  3. S H Ng
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  4. P L Cervi
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Correspondence to A Dogan.

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Dogan, A., Ngu, L., Ng, S. et al. Pathology and clinical features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma after successful treatment with thalidomide. Leukemia 19, 873–875 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403710

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