Neutrophils, in the absence of necrosis, are uncommon in non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma. Recently, a neutrophil-rich type of Ki-1 (CD30)-positive, anaplastic large cell lymphoma was described.
We report 3 cases of nonanaplastic large cell lymphoma with an abundance of tissue neutrophils; 2 cases were associated with breast carcinoma and possible infection.
Peripheral blood neutrophilia was noted in only 1 of these 3 patients. Neutrophilia in the lymph nodes occurred in either a sinusoidal or interstitial pattern. Multiple biopsies were available for review in 2 patients; however, tissue neutrophilia was present in only 1 biopsy each.
These findings suggest that nonanaplastic large cell lymphoma-related tissue neutrophilia is a transient phenomenon.