Primary oesophageal Ki (CD30)-positive ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma of T-cell phenotype

Yaakup H, Sagap I, Fadilah SAW
Correspondence: Prof S Fadillah Abdul Wahid, sfadilah@mail.hukm.ukm.my

ABSTRACT
Primary oesophageal lymphoma is a very rare entity, with fewer than 30 reported cases worldwide. It represents an important cause of dysphagia. Most of the oesophageal lymphomas are diffuse large B-cell type, with only one reported case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) of T-cell phenotype. Primary oesophageal lymphomas that are not associated with an immunocompromised state tend to affect elderly patients. We describe the first case of primary oesophageal Ki (CD30)-positive ALK+ALCL of T-cell phenotype in a 34-year-old immunocompetent woman, who presented with a two-year history of dysphagia. She was treated with chemotherapy and endoscopic oesophageal dilations and stenting, resulting in complete remission of the lymphoma and resolution of the dysphagia. She then underwent autologous peripheral blood haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and remained disease-free two years after the diagnosis.

Keywords: anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, dysphagia, Ki (CD30)-positive ALK⁺, lymphoma, primary oesophageal lymphoma
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(10): e289-e292