Occurrence of the t(2;5)(p23;q35) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Primary CD30(Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is considered by some to be a distinct clinicopathologic entity associated with the t(2;5) (p23;q35). However, the specificity of t(2;5) for ALCL has not been carefully studied. Therefore, we performed a detailed analysis of all cases of ALCL with abnormal cytogenetics results in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group registry, as well as all other cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with t(2;5) in the registry. We found the t(2;5) in only five of 10 cases of ALCL, four of whom were young patients. However, we also found the t(2;5) in 11 other cases of nonanaplastic lymphoma, including eight children with typical peripheral T-cell lymphomas of various types. The t(2;5) was also found in three older adults with B-cell lymphomas of various types. Thus, the t(2;5) was not specific for CD30+ ALCL. However, t(2;5) may define a clinicopathologic entity in children and young adults characterized by variable morphologies with a T-cell or indeterminate phenotype, CD30-positivity, nodal disease with frequent extranodal involvement, advanced stage, and an excellent response to therapy, including bone marrow transplantation for relapsed disease. The clinical relevance of the t(2;5) in older patients requires further study.     

Determination of the cerebrovascular reserve capacity by using acetazolamide as well as transcranial Doppler and SPECT tests]

The aim of this study was the development of a simple bedside test to assess cerebrovascular reserve capacity using transcranial Doppler sonography. We tried to validate the increase in blood flow velocity as cerebrovascular reserve capacity in 20 (3 normal, 7 TIA, 10 completed stroke) patients. They were studied using transcranial Doppler sonography and rCBF SPECT before and after injection of 1 g acetazolamide. Their increases in blood flow velocity and changes in cerebral blood flow correlated significantly in the symptomatic hemispheres (p less than 0.001). Blood flow velocity between the two hemispheres (symptomatic and asymptomatic) was not significantly different at rest. We offer these simple and reliable methods in clinical studies to clarify the frequency of ischemic stroke of hemodynamic origin.