Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an uncommon neoplasm of mature T lymphocytes associated with infection by human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), which is increasing in incidence in areas of the United States with large immigrant populations. Human T-lymphotrophic virus 1 infection is asymptomatic in most patients and has been associated with ATLL as well as tropical spastic paraparesis. Because there is considerable histologic overlap with other cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, high suspicion and clinical features must be present to make the diagnosis of ATLL.