Clinical Characteristics of Angiocentric Immunoproliferative Lesions in Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The histologic features of polymorphic reticulosis are identical to those of sinonasal "angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions" (AILs) which are characterized by angiocentric and angioinvasive lymphoid infiltrates with a wide range of cytologic atypia. 1) This report was conducted to further define the clinicopathological nature of this lesion and evaluate the important prognostic factors and therapeutic strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of 22 patients with AILs were reviewed. Histologic grading was performed by using previously reported criteria (Grade I-III).2) To clarify the cell origin of AIL, immunohistochemical studies were performed in 21 cases. RESULTS: On the slide review, 10 cases were Grade II and 12 cases were grade III which showed characteristic histologic features similar to those of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. On immunohistochemical studies, neoplastic cells of all patients had a T-cell phenotype. The difference in primary treatment results according to the histologic grade, clinical staging and therapeutic modalities was not significant statistically. The overall 5 year survival rates were 58%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest strongly that quite a significant portion of AIL may be in fact T-cell lymphoma. The only significant prognostic factor that predicts better survival is the achievement of initial complete response.