Genetic characterization of the paraimmunoblastic variant of small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report and review of the literature.

Paraimmunoblastic variant of small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SLL/CLL) is characterized by a diffuse proliferation of cells, called paraimmunoblasts, normally located on the pseudoproliferation centers. Patients usually present with multiple lymphadenopathies and a rapid and aggressive progression of the disease. We report a case with paraimmunoblastic variant of SLL/CLL genetically well-characterized by conventional cytogenetics, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), IgH/BCL-1, IgH/BCL-2, and p53 fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of IgH/BCL-2 translocation. A complex karyotype was found, with p53 deletion confirmed by CGH and FISH; however, no translocations involving either BCL-2 or BCL-1 and the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene were identified. A literature review shows only 20 previously reported cases, 6 of which involve genetic studies. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.