Expression of ERG in Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Patients: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall
Abstract Background: The Ets-related gene (ERG) is the member of ETS family of transcription factors, which commonly expressed in Ewing's sarcoma. Recently, we found that ERG can also express in lymphoblastic lymphoma. The aim of this article is to analyze the ERG expression in lymphoblastic lymphoma. Methods: The patients of lymphoblastic lymphomas who had undergone fine needle aspiration or surgical operation from 2017 to 2021 in the second affiliated hospital of Nan-Chang university were collected and examined. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to evaluate the expression of ERG. Results: In this study, 20 T-lymphoblastic lymphomas and 4 B-lymphoblastic lymphomas were investigated for the expression of ERG. Our findings showed that ERG was expressed in 8 of the 20 (40%) T-lymphoblastic lymphomas, and 3 of the 4 (75.0%) B-lymphoblastic lymphomas. Conclusions: This report shows that ERG can express in lymphoblastic lymphomas, and highlights a potential diagnostic pitfall in the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma, which urges pathologists to exercise caution in cases where ERG-positivity and illustrates the need for further immunohistochemical examination to avoid misdiagnosis.
