Large-cell anaplastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma originating in donor cells after allogenic bone marrow transplantation.

Second neoplasms after allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) occur in donor cells; however, host origin generally cannot be excluded. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) the origin of the malignant population can be proven indisputably. In a female patient with CD30+ large-cell anaplastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LCAL) after BMT with an HLA-identical brother donor, FISH using anti-CD30 immunocytochemistry in combination with anti-Y- and anti-EBV RNA probes was applied. In pathological lymph nodes the majority of cells were of donor type (Y). CD30-positive cells were Y-positive; these cells were also EBV-positive. Using FISH and immunocytochemistry we have demonstrated convincingly that this, possibly EBV-induced, LCAC originated in donor cells.