Canine t-zone lymphoma: Unique immunophenotypic features, outcome, and population characteristics

Background: Canine T-cell lymphoma (TCL) is clinically and histologically heterogeneous with some forms, such as T-zone lymphoma (TZL), having an indolent course. Immunophenotyping is an important tool in the classification of TCL in people, and can be equally useful in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesized that loss of expression of the CD45 antigen is a specific diagnostic feature of TZL. Animals: Twenty dogs with concurrent histology and immunophenotyping by flow cytometry were studied in depth. An additional 494 dogs diagnosed by immunophenotyping were used to characterize the population of dogs with this disease. Methods: Lymph node biopsies from 35 dogs with TCL were classified by 2 pathologists using WHO criteria. Twenty lymph nodes were from dogs with CD45- TCL and 15 were from CD45+ TCL. The pathologists were blinded to the flow cytometry findings. Outcome information was sought for the 20 dogs with CD45- lymphoma, and population characteristics of the additional 494 dogs were described. Results: All 20 CD45- cases were classified as TZL. The 15 CD45+ cases were classified as aggressive TCL and are described in an accompanying paper. TZL cases had a median survival of 637days. Examination of 494 additional dogs diagnosed with TZL by immunophenotyping demonstrated that 40% of cases are in Golden Retrievers, are diagnosed at a median age of 10years, and the majority have lymphadenopathy and lymphocytosis. Conclusions: TZL has unique immunophenotypic features that can be used for diagnosis.