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Table 7 Comparison of feline low-grade alimentary lymphoma (LGAL) and human indolent digestive T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (LPD)

From: Feline low-grade alimentary lymphoma: an emerging entity and a potential animal model for human disease

Data

Feline LGAL

Human indolent digestive T-cell LPD

Epidemiology

Frequent, increasing prevalence over the last decade

Very rare

Clinical signs

Non-specific weight loss, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea

Non-specific weight loss, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, digestive bleeding, malnutrition

Gastrointestinal localisation

Multiple lesions affecting all the gastrointestinal tract; small intestine as main involvement

Multiple lesions affecting all the gastrointestinal tract; small intestine as main involvement

Histology

Monomorphic population of small- to intermediate-sized T-lymphocytes; infiltration of neoplastic T-cells in villi and lamina propria; moderate villous atrophy; crypt hyperplasia

Monomorphic population of small- to intermediate-sized T-lymphocytes

Infiltration of neoplastic T-cells in villi and lamina propria; villous atrophy (often severe); crypt hyperplasia; erythema of the mucosa; ulcers; mucosal nodularity

Immunophenotyping

CD3+

CD3+ CD4+ (frequent)

or CD8+ or CD4-/CD8- (rare)

Clonality pattern

Clonal or oligoclonal TCRγ rearrangement

Clonal or oligoclonal TCRγ rearrangement

Main differential diagnosis

Inflammatory bowel disease

Refractory coeliac disease, autoimmune enteropathy

Outcome

Indolent evolution

Indolent evolution

Median survival time of 2 years

Persistent disease at a median follow up of 5 years

Treatment

No gold standard

No gold standard

Chlorambucil and steroids most common

“Watch and wait” strategy, immunosuppressive agents, chemotherapy (CHOP regimen), anti CD52 monoclonal antibody