LabQ Clinical Exercise 9: Atypical Lymphocytosis With “Flower” Cells in a Patient With Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

DENIZ PEKER, MD 

Primary Audience: Phlebotomists, Laboratory Technologists, Laboratory Directors

Secondary Audience: Pathologists, Clinical Scientists (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Residents, and Students

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

·         discuss the viral pathogenesis associated with HTLV-1 (human T-cell leukemia virus type 1) and regional prevalence of the disease; 

·         list the laboratory values and systemic symptoms associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL); 

·         describe the morphologic characteristics of the neoplastic “flower” cells that are pathognomonic for ATLL;

·         identify the immunophenotypic characteristics of lymphoma cells; and

·         discuss the differential diagnosis and prognosis of ATLL.