Abstract
Tonsillar lymphoma usually presents as unilateral or bilateral infiltration of diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas. We report a case of a 79‐year‐old man with near‐complete obstruction of the upper airways due to T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia cells. Surgical resection was safely performed to reduce burden of disease.
Highlights
A 79‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital because of persistent sore throat, dysphagia, and shortness of breath over the past two months
Cytogenetics confirmed a complex karyotype including an inversion of chromosome 14. These findings were indicative of T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T‐PLL)
T‐PLL accounts for ~2% of mature lymphocytic leukemias in adults.[1]
Summary
A 79‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital because of persistent sore throat, dysphagia, and shortness of breath over the past two months. Physical examination of the oral cavity revealed bilateral tonsillar hypertrophy resulting in the near‐ complete obstruction of the upper airway (Figure 1A) and disseminated skin nodules (Figure 1B). A total‐body computed tomography confirmed tonsillar enlargement (Figure 1C), and widespread lymphadenopathy both above and below the diaphragm. Cell blood count showed leukocytosis WBC 44.000/μL, and flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow cells (Figure 1D) identified an abnormal T‐cell population expressing TCR α/β, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, and CD52.
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