Splenic marginal zone lymphoma

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes is a rare subtype of marginal zone lymphoma. Splenomegaly (without lymphadenopathy), moderate lymphocytosis and the presence of villous lymphocytes are typical findings in the disease. This peripheral blood smear shows three neoplastic villous lymphocytes. The tumour cells are medium-sized, the nuclei are rounded with clumped chromatin, a sporadic fine nucleolus is visible (blue arrow). The abundant slightly basophilic cytoplasm forms irregular villi with either a unipolar location (red arrow) or a bipolar (green arrows) location, which is a typical morphological feature of the disease.

Two cutouts of peripheral blood smear picture show medium-sized lymphocytes with round or oval shapes of nuclei. Fine nucleoli are visible (blue arrows). The abundant slightly basophilic cytoplasm forms irregular villi with a typical unipolar (red arrow) or bipolar location. In careful observation, delicate villi are seen along the entire margin of the cytoplasm (green arrow).