Malignant lymphoma of convoluted lymphocytes: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration cytology and cytochemistry.

The technique of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was utilized in the diagnosis of 31 cases of malignant lymphoma of convoluted lymphocytes. The age of the patients ranged from 5 to 70 yr (median, 24 yr). Clinical history was available in 29 cases. All patients had peripheral lymphadenopathy. There was radiological evidence of mediastinal adenopathy in 62% of the cases, and 41% had pleural effusion; 52% of the patients presented with mediastinal compression syndrome. The diagnostically crucial convoluted cells comprised 47.3 +/- 23.73% of all lymphoid cells. Nuclear convolutions were appreciated in a significant number of cells in paraffin sections of 17 of 21 cases (85.7%) having subsequent histopathology. Cytochemical and E-rosette tests performed in 17 cases confirmed the T cell nature of the neoplasms. On an average, 72.3% of cells showed focal positive reaction for acid phosphatase, and 73.8% of cells formed E-rosettes.