Abstract

Polymorphic reticulosis(PMR) is a unique clinicopathological entity of unknown etiology, which commonly present as an aggressive, necrotizing lesion of the upper respiratory tract. It is a separate nosologic entity from Wegener's granulomatosis and idiopathic mildine destructive disease. The origin of the cells composing polymorphic reticulosis has been controversial. We reviewed 15 cases of polymorphic reticulosis with respect to clinical and histologic bases, and immunohistochemical studies were done using UCHLI (CD45RO), as a T cell marker, CD-20 as a B cell marker and alpha- I -antichymotrypsin as a histiocytic marker. Almost all cases showed characteristic histologic and immunohistochemical features similar to those of peripheral T cell lymphoma. Thus, this study indidcated that polymorphic reticulosis is a type of malignant lymphoma of T cell lineage.

• Keywords: Polymorphic reticulosis;Immunohistochemistry;Malignant lymphoma;