Primary malignant lymphomas of the spleen. A morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis of 17 cases

Primary Splenic Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Condition

Introduction

Primary splenic lymphoma is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that involves the spleen, exhibits diverse clinical presentations, and lacks a clear consensus in terms of management strategies.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 52-year-old patient with a complex medical history marked by multiple chronic medical conditions. The patient was diagnosed with primary splenic lymphoma, specifically the diffuse large B-cell subtype. Treatment for our patient involved a shortened course of chemotherapy (4 cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone [R-CHOP] followed by two doses of rituximab) due to issues related to compliance and treatment-related complications. This was followed by consolidative radiotherapy without resorting to splenectomy.

Conclusion

Remarkably, despite using a shortened course of R-CHOP, the patient achieved complete resolution, and a positron emission tomography scan conducted at the end of the 6-month posttreatment period confirmed sustained complete remission.

Splenic Primary Follicular Lymphoma With Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Report of a Case

Introduction:

Primary splenic lymphoma is a rare condition that accounts for approximately 1% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No primary splenic follicular lymphoma with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported in the literature.

Case presentation:

A 41-year-old man was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and received steroid maintenance treatment with oral prednisolone 13 mg/d for 6 years. However, the platelet counts were 20 × 103 /μL or less. Abdominal enhanced computer tomography (CT) revealed splenomegaly. He underwent laparoscopic splenectomy after preoperative high-dose immunoglobulin preparation (30 mg/d intravenously for 5 days) which were effective in the improvement of platelets count (130 × 103 /μL). The histologic diagnosis was B cell type follicular lymphoma of the spleen. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed a t(14; 18)(q32; q21) translocation, which supported the diagnosis of primary follicular lymphoma of the spleen. After the operation, the patient showed satisfactory recovery, and was discharged on postoperative day 7. He remains well with the platelet count of more than 200 × 103 / μl without medication. We herein report such a case.

Conclusion:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of splenic primary follicular lymphoma with ITP.

Use of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for evaluation of patients with primary splenic lymphoma

Primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is a rare disease, and its management differs from other splenic malignancies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with PSL.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the data of 17 patients with PSL (median age, 46 years; range, 3-64) who had undergone 50 18F-FDG PET/CT studies. Of the 50 PET/CTs, 15 were done for primary diagnosis/staging and 35 were done for restaging. PET/CT images were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively [maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax)]. Combination of clinical/imaging follow-up and/or histopathologic diagnosis was taken as reference standard.

RESULTS

Of the total 50 F-FDG PET/CT studies, 27 studies (54%) were positive and 23 (46%) were negative for disease. PET/CT was true positive in 25 studies, true negative in 22 studies, false positive in 2 studies, and false negative in 1 study. Overall, per study-based sensitivity was 96.2%, specificity was 91.7%, and accuracy was 94%. In those studies performed for diagnosis/staging (15/50), PET/CT was true positive in all 15, with an accuracy of 100%. In those studies performed for restaging (35/50), sensitivity was 90.9%, specificity was 91.7%, and accuracy was 91.4%. No significant difference was seen in the accuracy of PET/CT between staging and restaging groups (P=0.601). On 18F-FDG PET/CT, splenic involvement was seen in 24 studies, lymph nodal involvement in 5 studies, liver involvement in 3 studies, and bone marrow involvement in 1 study. More than one site of disease was seen in 9 PET/CT studies. On semiquantitative analysis, the overall mean splenic lesion SUVmax was 6.9±7.9 (median, 4.6; range, 1.3-29). The mean value of ratio of SUVmax of splenic lesions and SUVliver was 4.4±5.5 (median, 2.4; range, 0.9-24.2). On comparison of areas under the curve, the mean value of ratio of SUVmax of splenic lesions and SUVliver was found to be superior to SUVmax alone for this differentiation of involvement from normal spleen (P=0.018).

CONCLUSION

18F-FDG PET/CT seems useful in patients with primary splenic lymphoma and shows high diagnostic accuracy.

Characteristics of primary splenic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and role of splenectomy in improving survival

BACKGROUND

Primary splenic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PS-DLBCL), an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been investigated only in small patient series before the rituximab era. The therapeutic role of splenectomy in addition to immunochemotherapy is unknown.

METHODS

The databases of 7 medical centers in Israel were searched for patients diagnosed with PS-DLBCL in 1982-2013, and clinical, treatment, and outcome data were collected for 87 patients. The mean patient age was 59.6 years; 57.5% were male.

RESULTS

Patients presented with abdominal pain (81%), B symptoms (59%), splenomegaly (84%), splenic masses (97%), and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (84%); 61% had stage I or II disease. The diagnosis was made with core-needle biopsy in 46 patients and with diagnostic splenectomy in 39 patients. Eighty patients (92%) were treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone; 68 (78%) received rituximab. A complete response was achieved in 67 patients (77%), and a partial response was achieved in 8 (9%). At 5 years, the overall survival (OS) rate was 77%, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 67%. When patients were stratified by splenectomy at diagnosis, the OS rates were 91% for splenectomized patients and 68% for nonsplenectomized patients (P = .08), and the PFS rates were 85% and 55%, respectively (P = .02). The respective values for the subgroup with early-stage disease were 96% and 63% for OS (P = .009) and 90% and 51% for PFS (P = .01). In a multivariate analysis, a low Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and splenectomy independently predicted better PFS (P < .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PS-DLBCL usually present with abdominal pain, high LDH levels, and a splenic mass. This study shows for the first time that splenectomy at diagnosis improves survival, specifically in patients with early-stage disease.

Role of blood and bone marrow examination in the diagnosis of mature lymphoid neoplasms in patients presenting with isolated splenomegaly

OBJECTIVES

Mature lymphoid neoplasms presenting with 'prominent splenomegaly without significant lymphadenopathy' are uncommon and pose unique diagnostic challenges as compared to those associated with lymphadenopathy. Their descriptions in the literature are largely limited to a few case series. We analyzed the spectrum of these lymphomas diagnosed by peripheral blood (PB) and/or bone marrow (BM) examination.

METHODS

Over a period of 6 years, 75 patients were diagnosed with a lymphoma from PB/BM who had presented with predominant splenomegaly. Their clinical and laboratory records including PB and BM morphology; immunophenotyping using multi-parametric flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry were reviewed. Wherever indicated, an extended panel of immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on BM biopsies for accurate sub-classification.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The commonest lymphomas were hairy cell leukemia (HCL) (32%) and splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) (24%). Others included diffuse large B cell lymphoma (8%), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (8%), mantle cell lymphoma (2.7%), and follicular lymphoma (1.3%), all of which usually presents with lymphadenopathy. SMZL was the commonest lymphoma among females and those with massive splenomegaly and lymphocytosis; while HCL was commonest in patients with pancytopenia. SMZL commonly presented with lymphocytosis; however, 22% of them also presented with pancytopenia.

CONCLUSION

The high diagnostic efficacy of PB and BM examination using flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry in confirming and sub-classifying splenic lymphomas suggests that a thorough hematological evaluation should always precede a diagnostic splenectomy. Immunohistochemistry remains the best modality to identify sparse or intra-sinusoidal infiltration on BM biopsy and is particularly useful in patients with fibrotic marrows and pancytopenia.

Surgical approach of primary splenic lymphoma: report of a case and review of the literature

A 80-year-old woman was hospitalized due to anemia and fever. Computed tomography depicted a solitary concentric, sharply marginated lesion of the spleen. Laparotomy identified a creamy-white soft tumor. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin B-cells anaplastic lymphoma. Extended range of pathological manifestations explains the variety of radiological appearances and difficulty in accurate diagnostic process of primary splenic lymphoma.

Primary splenic lymphoma associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated with splenic rupture

Primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is a rare disease with ambiguous definition, comprising less than 1% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Even rarer is PSL combined with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which has presentations of fever, cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, hyperferritinemia, and phagocytosis of hematopoietic cells in the reticuloendothelial system. We report the case of a 77-year-old man who presented with HLH initially. Refusing diagnostic splenectomy, he received chemotherapy. Spontaneous splenic rupture occurred after chemotherapy. In the following emergency operation, PSL was diagnosed. He received another 5 courses of chemotherapy with the R-CNOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, prednisolone). Now he has no residual or relapsed disease. Diagnostic splenectomy for adult HLH patients without definite etiologies may play an important role.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the spleen presenting as space occupying lesion: a case report and review of literature

Primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is rare with a reported incidence of less than 1%. Diffuse large cell pathology has been reported in 22-23% of the cases and is felt to have poor outcome. This study reports a 50 year old male who presented with fever and weakness. He was found to have a mass lesion in the spleen documented by CT scan. A splenectomy was performed which showed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Immunohistological studies showed a positivity for CD20 and CD30.

Hepatosplenic αβ T-cell lymphoma with myelodysplastic syndrome

We describe a patient with hepatosplenic 33 T-cell lymphoma who showed pancytopenia and myelodysplasia. A 35-year-old man was admitted with fever, pancytopenia, and hepatosplenomegaly but with no lymphadenopathy. We also found trilineage myelodysplasia in the bone marrow on his first admission. The patient had high fever and anemia but no evidence of infection and was tentatively treated with prednisolone. This treatment resulted in a transient improvement of the cytopenia and a reduction of spleen size. However, 10 months after the first manifestation, progression of the splenomegaly and fever became apparent, and a splenectomy was performed. The pathologic findings for the spleen showed diffuse and disseminated infiltration of medium- to large-sized T-lymphocytes in the splenic red pulp. These cells were immunohistochemically positive for CD3, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD16, CD56,T-cell receptor 33 (TCR33),T-cell intracellular antigen 1, and granzyme B but were negative for CD4, CD30, CD57, and TCR33. These data suggested a diagnosis of hepatosplenic 33 T-cell lymphoma. A Southern blot analysis revealed gene rearrangement of the TCR 3-chain gene but not the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in the spleen cells. An in situ hybridization analysis for the Epstein-Barr virus revealed negative results. The patient received 8 courses of combination chemotherapy and achieved a partial remission; however, the dysplastic features of the marrow cells persisted after the partial remission was obtained. Additional treatment with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation resulted in a transient complete remission; however, the patient relapsed 11 months later. Because he had experienced no lymphadenopathy and showed dysplastic features in the bone marrow, the diagnosis was highly dependent on the pathologic findings for the resected spleen.

Three cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as primary splenic lymphoma

Primary splenic lymphoma (PSL) is often defined as generalized lymphoma with splenic involvement as the dominant feature. It is a rare disease that comprises approximately 1% of all malignant lymphomas. We investigated three cases of non-Hodgkin's splenic lymphoma that had different clinical features on presentation. The patients' survival times from diagnosis ranged from 59 to 143 months, without evidence of relapse after splenectomy and chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. This data suggest that PSL is potentially curable. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact that different treatment modalities without splenectomy have on patient survival.

Treatment options for primary splenic low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The purpose of this comparative study was to evaluate the response of primary splenic low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) to chemotherapy, splenectomy, and chemotherapy combined with splenectomy in order to elaborate the optimum treatment modality. A total of 104 patients (age range: 15-82 years) with primary low-grade B-cell NHL of the spleen were comprised by our study. Stage IV disease was determined in 102 (98.1%) cases. Regarding the treatment modality, splenectomy was performed in 14 patients, early splenectomy and single-agent chemotherapy in 15, early splenectomy and combined chemotherapy in 19, single-agent chemotherapy in 23, and combined chemotherapy in 33. In the above-mentioned order, complete remission rate was following: none, 40.0, 31.6, 21.8, and 18.2%. Partial remissions were achieved in 85.7, 46.7, 57.9, 30.4, and 69.7% of cases, respectively. The median remission duration turned out to be longer (74.5 months) in the group of patients with complete remissions attained by means of splenectomy and combined chemotherapy. Local relapses in the spleen developed in 19 (72.7%) patients treated with combined chemotherapy and in 9 (90.0%), who had undergone single-agent chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival was 54.4% after splenectomy, 39.4% after single-agent chemotherapy, and 37.1% after combined chemotherapy, being significantly higher (P <0.05) after splenectomy and single-agent chemotherapy (67.2%), and splenectomy followed by combined chemotherapy (64.7%). Early splenectomy combined with chemotherapy is the optimum treatment option for primary low-grade NHL of the spleen because of the superiority in complete remission rate, remission duration, and in overall survival rate. Splenectomy leads to somatic compensation of patients, makes impossible local relapsing in the spleen, prevents continuous dissemination from the primary tumor site, and mostly corrects cytopenias, creating better conditions for chemotherapy.

Can large B-cell lymphoma mimic cystic lesions of the spleen?

A 58-yr-old male with a history of hepatitis C virus infection, presented with a 2-mo history of intractable left upper abdominal pain. He had fallen from a ladder 2 yr previously, landing on his left side. Abdominal computed tomography identified a large cystic mass in the spleen. The patient was brought to the operating room with a presumptive diagnosis of symptomatic, post-traumatic, false cyst of the spleen. Instead, at surgery, a splenic mass with dense adhesions to the diaphragm and stomach was found. On final histological analysis, it was diagnosed to be a large B-cell lymphoma. Despite its rarity, gastroenterologists and surgeons should be aware of large B-cell lymphoma when encountering cystic lesions of the spleen, because the management of benign cystic disease is usually nonsurgical.

Large B-cell lymphoma presenting in the spleen: identification of different clinicopathologic conditions

Only a few series of splenic large B-cell lymphoma have been previously reported, including limited immunophenotypic studies and clinical data. Here we review the clinical data, morphology, and immunophenotype of series of 33 cases of large B-cell lymphoma presenting in the spleen. Three main groups of tumors are identified. Group A was characterized by macronodular tumors (20 cases), with predominantly stage I disease and a favorable clinical outcome. All cases were bcl6 positive. Group B was characterized by a micronodular pattern (nine cases), including a subset with T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma features. Most of the patients in this group were diagnosed at advanced clinical stages and died of the disease. All cases were bcl6 positive. Group C was characterized by diffuse red pulp infiltration (four cases) and advanced clinical stages and showed an aggressive behavior. All but one case were bcl6 positive. The results of this series define a characteristic type of large B-cell lymphoma presenting in the spleen as a tumoral mass, associated with a relatively favorable clinical course. Additionally, they provide evidence that clinical presentation as a tumor confined to the spleen and the hilar lymph nodes is associated with lower aggressivity.

Splenic involvement by peripheral T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms

In contrast to B-cell lymphomas, the literature on the splenic pathology of peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas is limited. Several different patterns of splenic involvement can be observed in peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas: 1) solitary or multiple fleshy nodule, which is seen predominantly in tumors rich in large cells; 2) diffuse red pulp involvement, which is the commonest pattern; 3) colonization of periarteriolar shealth; and 4) patchy haphazard involvement. However, the miliary small nodule pattern commonly observed in low-grade B-cell lymphomas is practically never seen. In hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia, the pattern of splenic involvement is rather stereotyped, with diffuse red pulp infiltration and preservation of the sinus/pulp cord architecture, and without formation of nodules. The pattern of involvement is variable from case to case in peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified, and there can be associated prominent hemophagocytosis or a masking component of epithelioid granulomas. Aggressive NK cell leukemia and extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma show predominatly red pulp involvement, although the tumor cell density can vary from field to field; blood vessel walls are commonly infiltrated and there can be areas of necrosis.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma is a recently described primary splenic lymphoproliferative disorder that mainly affects older individuals. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman with morphologic and immunophenotypic findings consistent with splenic marginal zone lymphoma. This woman is one of the youngest patients ever described with this disease. The patient presented with complaints of left-sided abdominal fullness and was noted to have splenomegaly on physical examination. Laboratory evaluation revealed pancytopenia and a serum M component. The spleen was removed and weighed 1550 g. Histology showed prominent white pulp with an expanded marginal zone. The neoplastic cells were marginal zone-type cells with small to intermediate-sized nuclei with occasional conspicuous nucleoli and moderate amounts of pale to amphophilic cytoplasm. Immunophenotypic analysis revealed a B-cell population (CD20 positive) with kappa-light-chain restriction. The patient was treated with adjuvant therapy, but developed progressive disease less than 2 years after initial diagnosis.

The spleen as a diagnostic specimen: a review of 10 years' experience at two tertiary care institutions

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the yield of the diagnostic splenectomy, and the relevance of these studies to the management of patients with unexplained splenomegaly or a splenic mass are limited by low number of cases, the use of selection criteria, and the lack of modern terminology and modern ancillary studies. The current study correlates clinical intent with preoperative clinical and radiologic studies and histologic findings in an assessment of the diagnostic yield of splenectomy.

METHODS

The medical charts, laboratory data, radiologic studies, and pertinent preoperative biopsies on all patients who underwent splenectomy between the years 1986 and 1995 were reviewed, and the clinical intent behind the procedure was correlated with histologic findings.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-two of the 1280 patients underwent splenectomy for diagnosis, and in 116 patients a specific disease was identified histologically that explained the splenomegaly/splenic mass; malignancy was the most common cause of unexplained splenomegaly or splenic mass, though benign neoplasms and reactive disorders were documented in 25% of the cases. Primary splenic lymphomas were most commonly of large cell B-cell type.

CONCLUSIONS

In the setting of splenomegaly or splenic mass, splenectomy has a high diagnostic yield and usually discloses a malignancy. The clinical category of "primary splenic lymphoma" is biologically heterogeneous, and the diagnosis is usually an intermediate grade (not low grade) lymphoma. The range of conditions associated with splenic masses were quite commonly associated with diseases that are amenable to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis, whereas those disorders associated only with splenomegaly included a large fraction of diseases for which FNA may yield either incomplete or misleading results.

Splenic lymphoproliferative disorders in human T lymphotropic virus type-I endemic area of japan: clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic analysis of 27 cases

Primary splenic involvement in lymphoid neoplasms is rare and the clinicopathologic features of splenic lymphoma are not well described compared to nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Here we characterized splenic lymphomas in an human T lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) endemic area of Japan. To assess the pattern of splenic involvement and evaluate prognosis, we reviewed 27 specimens consisting of 26 splenectomies and one necropsy, which were classified using REAL classification. Cases were divided into primary splenic lymphoma in 11 patients and secondary in 16 patients. The incidence of primary splenic lymphoma was 0.3% (11 of approximately 4,000 malignant lymphomas). Primary splenic lymphomas included 7 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBL), 2 follicular lymphomas (FL), and 1 each of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Secondary splenic lymphomas included 6 DLBL, 4 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), 2 FL, 2 Hodgkin's disease (HD), 1 each of hairy cell leukemia and ALCL. Gross examination showed two patterns of splenic involvement; solid type (formation of large nodular mass, n=16) and disseminated type (multiple nodules with diffuse infiltration but no large nodular formation, n=10). The type could not be determined in one case. Most solid types were DLBL or FL, while MCL was of the disseminated type. Immunohistochemistry showed all but each 2 cases of ALCL and HD were of B lineage. Follow-up of 26 patients indicated that all but one patient with primary lymphoma were still alive (range, 1-89 months) and 8 of 15 patients with secondary lymphomas died due to the progression of malignant lymphoma; the survival rate at 2 years was 50% in these patients. No elevation of anti-HTLV-I antibody was found. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) showed no reactivity of lymphoma cells, although a few small lymphocytes were positive for EBV. Hepatitis C virus was observed in 6 of 20 (30%) patients examined and 4 of 11 (36%) cases of primary splenic lymphoma. Our findings indicate that patients with primary splenic lymphoma have a favorable prognosis after splenectomy.

Hepatosplenic alphabeta T-cell lymphomas: a report of 14 cases and comparison with hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphomas

Hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma is a distinct entity, characterized by occurrence in young adult males with hepatosplenomegaly, B-symptoms, peripheral blood cytopenias, and no lymphadenopathy; lymphomatous infiltrates in the splenic red pulp, hepatic sinusoids, and bone marrow sinuses; T-cell receptor (TCR) gammadelta chains and a cytotoxic T-cell phenotype; isochromosome 7q; and an aggressive clinical course. In comparison, this study describes the clinicopathologic features of 14 hepatosplenic T-cell lymphomas expressing TCR alphabeta chains. They occurred in 11 women and 3 men with a median age of 36 years. Clinical presentation was similar to that described previously for hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphomas, except for the female preponderance and age distribution (5 patients younger than 13 years of age and 5 patients older than 50 years of age). Disease distribution was primarily in the splenic red pulp and hepatic sinusoids, although liver infiltrates were largely periportal in four cases. Bone marrow involvement, observed in eight patients, was usually interstitial and/or within the sinuses. Lymph nodes were involved in five patients, although lymphadenopathy was demonstrable in only two. Ten cases were composed of intermediate-size tumor cells with round/oval nuclei, slightly dispersed chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and scant to moderate amounts of cytoplasm. Four lymphomas contained primarily large cells with irregular nuclei, dispersed chromatin, discernible nucleoli, and moderate to abundant cytoplasm. Tumor cells in all 14 lymphomas were cytotoxic alphabeta T-cells; 13 co-expressed natural killer cell-associated antigens and showed T-cell clonality. Three lymphomas were associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Two of four cases had an isochromosome 7q. Eleven patients are dead, eight within a year of diagnosis, and two patients have maintained complete remissions after combination chemotherapy. These data show that hepatosplenic T-cell lymphomas include an alphabeta-subtype. This group, along with the previously recognized gammadelta group, should be recognized as phenotypically heterogeneous subtypes of the same disease entity.

Splenectomy influences bone marrow infiltration in patients with splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma with or without villous lymphocytes

BACKGROUND

Splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma (SMZL) is a low grade B-cell lymphoma in which patients can have circulating villous lymphocytes and can show a peculiar intrasinusoidal bone marrow (BM) infiltration. Splenectomy is the reported treatment of choice for these patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of splenectomy on patients with BM lymphomatous infiltration.

METHODS

BM biopsies of 16 patients with SMZL were studied morphologically and immunohistochemically. In 12 patients, BM biopsies were taken before and after splenectomy. Four patients did not undergo splenectomy, and their BM biopsies were performed with an approximately 1 year interval.

RESULTS

BM infiltration ranged from 10% to 40% of overall cellularity and was mostly of the intrasinusoidal type. After splenectomy, BM infiltration tended to become frankly nodular and showed an increase in tumor burden. Nonsplenectomized patients showed an unmodified picture.

CONCLUSIONS

Splenectomy seems to induce important changes in patients with BM infiltration, probably through the lack of microenvironmental factors on circulating cells. These effects suggest reconsidering the role of splenectomy in the treatment of patients with SMZL.

Advanced primary Hodgkin's disease of the spleen cured by surgical resection: report of a case

We describe herein the case of a 61-year-old man who underwent successful resection of advanced primary Hodgkin's disease of the spleen. On admission, computed tomography and ultrasonography showed a fist-sized, slightly enhanced mass, and angiography demonstrated a typical neoplastic tumor stain in the spleen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a hard mass invading the splenic hilar lymph nodes, gastric upper body, transverse colon, pancreatic tail, and left lateral segment of the liver. The patient underwent splenectomy with combined resection of the surrounding organs invaded by the tumor, followed by postoperative chemotherapy. Histological examination showed many Reed-Sternberg cells, and the tumor was subsequently diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease of the spleen. The patient is currently well without any signs of recurrence 4 years after surgery.

A marginal zone pattern may be found in different varieties of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: the morphology and immunohistology of splenic involvement by B-cell lymphomas simulating splenic marginal zone lymphoma

AIMS

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is characterized by a micronodular infiltrate of the splenic white pulp, centred on pre-existing follicles, with a peripheral rim of 'marginal' zone B-cells, always accompanied by a variable degree of red pulp infiltration. These histological features can be closely mimicked by a variety of other small B-cell lymphomas when they involve the spleen, which makes recognition of SMZL difficult. We therefore have compared the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of other non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) types with those of SMZL.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We selected cases of splenic involvement by different types of B-cell lymphoma, including mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), immunocytoma (IM) and lymphocytic lymphoma (B-CLL). A micronodular pattern and marginal zone differentiation were both found to be frequently present in FL and MCL, and with lesser frequency in IM and B-CLL. The main morphological feature useful for differential diagnosis was the cytological composition of the white pulp tumoral nodules. SMZL is distinguished by characteristic dimorphic cytology, different from the monomorphic cytology of MCL, and the distinctive mixture of centroblasts and centrocytes which is the rule in FL. B-CLL could also be identified on the basis of the polymorphic cytology including small lymphocytes and prolymphocytes, whereas cases diagnosed as IM show prominent plasmacytic differentiation, lacking the features of the other lymphoma types. Immunohistochemistry was particularly useful for the differential diagnosis. Thus the recognition of MCL was facilitated by the identification of cyclin D1 and CD43 reactivity, while FL could be recognized by the lack of IgD expression or the distinctive pattern of Ki67 staining found in SMZL. B-CLL cells were CD23+, CD43+.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide morphological and immunohistological information useful in the recognition of the different varieties of NHLs when involving the spleen and the differential diagnosis of SMZL.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting with prominent splenomegaly--clinicopathologic diversity in relationship to immunophenotype

Splenomegaly is an uncommon presenting feature of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a study of 16 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting with prominent splenomegaly, which includes ten B-cell lymphomas and six T-cell lymphomas. There were distinct clinical and morphologic differences between these two immunologic types of splenic lymphomas, the B-cell types being predominantly low grade and occurring in older individuals whereas the T-cell lymphomas were predominantly high grade and occurred in adolescents and young adults.

Primary non-Hodgkin's splenic lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

To describe the imaging, clinical and pathological features of primary splenic lymphoma using a strict definition.

METHODS

Of 21 cases, plain films were available in nine, sonograms in 10 and CT in 16. We categorized the spleen as either normal, enlarged with no focal defects (type 1), studded with miliary masses (type 2), containing multifocal masses of varying size (1-10 cm) (type 3) or containing a solitary large mass >5 cm without (type 4A) or with (type 4B) central hypodensity/anechoic areas.

RESULTS

Clinical presentations were left upper quadrant pain, weight loss and/or fever. One case was found incidentally on CT. Fourteen were type 4A, three type 4B, four type 3 and none were type 1 or 2. Nine of 10 cases were hypoechoic. In 11/12 cases with enhanced scans, the lesions are hypodense relative to the splenic parenchyma, and in one case, the lesion was necrotic. Rim enhancement was seen in one case.

CONCLUSION

Primary splenic lymphoma usually presents as a mass or masses rather than with splenomegaly alone. Splenectomy may be required for diagnosis.

The relationship between primary splenic malignant lymphoma and chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND

An etiologically important role has been suggested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the development of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). HCV has been recognized as the major cause of non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis throughout the world. Moreover, the occurrence of primary splenic malignant lymphoma (PSML) has been demonstrated in patients with chronic liver disease.

METHODS

In this study, the authors describe three patients with PSML. The clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of the lymphomas were studied. Clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was investigated by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

All three cases of PSML were detected by imaging studies performed in routine follow-up of cases of chronic liver disease associated with HCV infection. Macronodular lesions were found in the three spleens; two of them were of normal weight and another was moderately enlarged. The former two were the smallest PSMLs reported to date. The histology was B-cell NHL in all cases. All 3 patients were alive after splenectomy with an average follow-up of 51.7 months (range, 35-74 months).

CONCLUSIONS

HCV infection may play an etiologic role in the development of splenic B-cell lymphoma. The long survival of the patients in this study may have been due to early splenectomy.

Immunological abnormalities in splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma

The clinical features of patients with splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma (SMZCL) have rarely been reported. In the present study, immunological abnormalities, particularly hematological abnormalities, observed in SMZCL were described. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and appearance of lupus anticoagulant were observed in 2 of 3 patients with SMZCL. Other abnormal data including monoclonal gammopathy and cold agglutinin were also observed in 2 of the 3 patients. Immunological abnormalities may be characteristic complications in patients with SMZCL and must be followed carefully, since they may be a reliable marker of this type of lymphoma activity.

"Small" B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with splenomegaly at presentation are either mantle cell lymphoma or marginal zone cell lymphoma. A study based on histology, cytology, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetic analysis

Only 1 to 2% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) present with an enlarged spleen, most of them "small B-cell lymphomas." Recently, several reports have identified these lymphomas as marginal zone B-cell lymphomas. We reviewed 39 cases of NHL presenting with an enlarged spleen without lymphadenopathy, documented by fixed and frozen material. Two were peripheral T-cell lymphomas, four diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and 14 hairy cell leukemias. The remaining 19 belonged to the "small B-cell" category and constitute the focus of our study. Subtyping was achieved by combining morphology, immunophenotype, and cytogenetic features according to the proposal of the International Lymphoma Study Group; in addition, analysis of the peripheral blood and bone marrow smears was performed adopting the French-American-British (FAB) criteria. From this study, we can conclude that most "small B-cell" NHL of the spleen were either mantle cell lymphomas or marginal zone cell lymphomas and, by peripheral blood analysis, that the mantle cell lymphomas corresponded to intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma and the marginal zone cell lymphomas to splenic lymphomas with villous lymphocytes. As a result, several diagnostic criteria can be proposed that may be helpful in differentiating mantle cell lymphoma from marginal zone cell lymphoma in the spleen.

Low-grade B-cell lymphomas of the splenic marginal zone: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 14 cases

We have studied 14 cases of low-grade, splenic marginal zone, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The clinical presentation in all cases was with splenomegaly and, in 10 cases, circulating neoplastic lymphoid cells in the peripheral blood with involvement of bone marrow. In all cases the splenic white pulp was hyperplastic with expansion of marginal zones and varying degrees of infiltration of germinal centres by neoplastic cells. The cells were a mixture of medium sized lymphocytes with moderate amounts of cytoplasm and finely dispersed nuclear chromatin, together with occasional blast cells with small nucleoli. Satellite red pulp aggregates of tumour cells centred on small epithelioid cell clusters were seen in all cases. These appear to be a characteristic and diagnostically important feature of splenic marginal zone lymphoma. The tumour cells expressed CD20, CD45RA, bcl-2 and the antigens detected by MB2. All cases expressed IgM with light chain restriction. In addition, IgD was expressed in four cases. The follicular dendritic cell network was disrupted in those follicles which were infiltrated by tumour cells. A network of stromal myoid cells, at the periphery of the marginal zone, identified by expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, was preserved. Alpha-smooth muscle actin positive dendritic cells were also seen within and around satellite tumour nodules in the red pulp.

Primary splenic large cell anaplastic lymphoma associated with HIV infection

We report a case of primary splenic B-cell CD30 positive large cell anaplastic lymphoma developing in an HIV positive patient. The tumour cells expressed Epstein-Barr virus-associated antigens.

Multiple autoantibody production in a patient with splenic lymphoma

We report on a patient with splenic lymphoma of B-cell origin who developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). IgM lambda M-protein, IgM anticardiolipin antibody (ACA), and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were detected in the serum, and direct Coombs' test showed autoantibodies of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses on red blood cells (RBC). In in vitro culture, tumor cells isolated from the spleen produced only IgM ACA, which was enhanced by IL-6 but not by IL-4 or IL-5. The levels of ACA and LA decreased after splenectomy and chemotherapy; the strength of the direct Coombs' test, however, did not change. These findings indicated that in this patient the lymphoma cells produced IgM lambda ACA, but not autoantibodies of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses against RBC. It was also suggested that IL-6 might at least partially stimulate the production of ACA.

Splenic lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes: report of seven cases and review of the literature

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) is a relatively new entity with only a few reports published. We report seven cases of SLVL with detailed clinicopathologic and comprehensive immunophenotypic studies to further characterize this lymphoma, which is frequently confused with hairy cell leukemia and other low-grade B-cell lymphoid neoplasms. The diagnostic criteria we used include 1) prominent splenomegaly, 2) insignificant or no lymphadenopathy, 3) lymphocytosis without leukopenia, 4) presence of circulating villous lymphocytes, 5) characteristic cytologic and histologic features, and 6) specific phenotypic and cytochemical findings. Our studies show that SLVL does not represent a pure entity but rather a morphologically heterogeneous group of low-grade lymphomas with various cytologic and histologic features. Although immunophenotyping is helpful in differential diagnosis, multiparameter studies are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. In our series, only two patients died of SLVL, who probably developed transformation to a higher-grade lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the spleen

Although the spleen is frequently involved in disseminated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), splenic presentation as the initial or only site of disease is uncommon. The true incidence of splenic lymphoma is difficult to estimate because of the variable definition of this disease, however, the diagnosis of primary lymphoma of the spleen should be limited to involvement of only the spleen and splenic hilum. Using this restricted definition, our experience suggests that the prognosis of NHL of the spleen, when pathologically staged, may have a favorable prognosis which approximates that seen with limited stage NHL at other sites. The influence of pathologic subtype on natural history and the impact of adjuvant therapy are discussed.

Primary pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma of the spleen

We report a case of primary splenic T-cell lymphoma that posed difficult problems in differential diagnosis with erythrophagocytic T-gamma lymphoma and inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen. The need for immunophenotypic and molecular studies for establishing the correct diagnosis and the importance of early detection and treatment, is emphasized in the light of the relatively good prognosis of splenic lymphoma, diagnosed in the early stages of disease.

Primary large cell lymphoma of the splenic sinuses: a variant of angiotropic B-cell lymphoma (neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis)?

A case of large cell lymphoma of B-cell lineage originating in the splenic sinuses is described. In addition to widening the spectrum of primary malignant lymphomas of the spleen, this case raises the possibility that variants of angiotropic large cell lymphomas may exist that do not involve blood vessels but do involve the spleen and lymph node sinuses.

Concomitant primary low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the spleen and breast carcinoma

A case is described of a 71 year old woman with scirrhous breast cancer and multiple hypoechogenic lesions in the spleen. The patient was treated successfully by mastectomy and splenectomy. Morphologic examination of the spleen showed a primary, centroblastic-centrocytic, low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Eight months after splenectomy the patient still remains in complete remission.