Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare subtype of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) primarily involving the lymph nodes; however, extra-nodal manifestations are also common. Diagnosis can be confirmed by a combination of histopathology and immunohistochemical staining. Complete workup and staging include imaging and bone marrow examination. This presents a case of a 55-year-old male with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) - negative ALCL presenting with an alar mass. ALCL patients often present with rapidly progressing lymphadenopathy. Extra-nodal manifestations commonly involve the skin, liver, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Biopsy of the mass showed small to medium-sized anaplastic lymphoid cells that stained positive for CD30, LCA (CD45), CD99, and negative for CD20, ALK (CD246), neuron-specific enolase, CD34, CD5, PAX5, TdT, MPO, CD138, EMA, pancytokeratin, CD3 and synaptophysin. These findings were most compatible with an ALK-negative ALCL. The patient was started on a combination of brentuximab vedotin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (BV + CHP) every 21 days for 6 cycles. There was a progressive decrease in the size of the mass, and a resolution was noted after the 5th cycle. FDG-PET/CT scan was done after the 6th cycle of chemotherapy and 6 months after completion of treatment. Both scans showed no evidence of metabolically active nodal or extra-nodal lymphomatous disease. This case showed a unique extra-nodal manifestation of an ALK-negative ALCL presenting as an alar mass with a good response to BV + CHP. However, more evidence is necessary to further establish the role of BV as the first-line treatment regimen for CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), including ALK-negative ALCL.
lymphoma ; anaplastic large cell lymphoma ; brentuximab vedotin ; case report