Name

Aggressive NK-cell leukemia

ICD-O-3 Morphology

Effective 2001 and later

Reportable

for cases diagnosed 2001 and later

Primary Site(s)

C421
Primary site must be bone marrow (C421)

Abstractor Notes

The most common sites of involvement are peripheral blood, bone marrow, liver and spleen; however, dissemination to any organ is possible

Overlap with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma showing multi-organ involvement may be possible, but it is unclear whether Aggressive NK-cell leukemia represents the leukemic counterpart of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Response to chemotherapy is usually poor.

Diagnostic Confirmation

This histology can be determined by positive histology (including peripheral blood) with or without genetics and/or immunophenotyping. Review the Definitive Diagnostic Methods, Immunophenotyping and Genetics Data sections below, and the instructions in the Hematopoietic Manual for further guidance on assigning Diagnostic confirmation.

Grade

Not Applicable

Module Rule

None

Alternate Names

Large granular lymphocyte leukemia, NK-cell type-REAL

Definition

Aggressive NK-cell leukemia is a systemic neoplastic proliferation of NK cells frequently associated with EBV.

Definitive Diagnostic Methods

Bone marrow biopsy
Genetic testing
Immunophenotyping

Genetics Data

Chromosome 1q gain
Chromosome 7p loss
Chromosome 17p loss
del(6)(q21q25)
EBV positive

Immunophenotyping

CD2+ (expression/positive)
CD3- (no expression/)negative
CD3+ (expression/epsilon positive)
CD5- (no expression/negative)
CD11b+ (expression/positive)
CD16+ (expression/positive)
CD56+ (expression/positive)
CD57- (no expression/negative)
FASL+ (expression/positive)

Treatments

Chemotherapy
Hematologic Transplant and/or Endocrine Procedures
Radiation therapy

Transformations to

There are no known transformations

Transformations from

There are no known transformations

Corresponding ICD-9 Codes

207.8 Other specified leukemia

Corresponding ICD-10 Codes

C94.7 Other specified leukemias

Corresponding ICD-10-CM Codes (U.S. only)

C94.8 Other specified leukemias (effective October 01, 2015)

Signs and Symptoms

Anemia
Coagulopathy
Fever
Hepatosplenogemaly
Hemophagocytic syndrome
Multi-organ failure
Neutropenia
Thrombocytopenia

Diagnostic Exams

Blood chemistry studies
Cytogenetic analysis
Flow cytometry
Immunohistochemistry
Immunophenotyping
Peripheral blood smear

Progression and Transformation

Relapse is almost the rule in patients achieving remission with or without stem cell transplant.

Epidemiology and Mortality

Age: median age 42
Incidence: rare
Sex: slight male dominance
Survival: 2 month median survival

Sources

Swerdlow SH, Campo E, Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Pileri SA, Stein H, Thiele J (Eds):
WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (Revised 4th edition)
IARC: Lyon 2017
Section: Mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms
Pages: 353-354

International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition, Second Revision. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2020.
Section: ICD-O-3.2 (2020) Morphological Codes
Pages: http://www.iacr.com.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=100&Itemid=577
Glossary