The axillary nodes have been biopsied:
Microscopy: The core biopsies show a loose, relatively monotonous population of small lymphoid cells admixed with histiocytes with some intervening dense fibrous connective tissue. Immunoperoxidase shows the cells to be uniformly small T cells immunoreactive with CD 3 with very occasional CD20 immunoreactive cells. There is no CD10 immunoreactivity. Some of the T cells, show cytoplasmic BCL-2. The cells are also CD2 immunoreactive and predominantly CD4 and CD5, with scattered CD8 positive cells. There is no immunoreaction with BCL 6. There is no immunoreaction with EBV.
Conclusion: Lymph core - the morphology and immunophenotype, favours normal paracortical T lymphocytes rather than AILT given the CD10-, BCL6-, EBV - phenotype.