Synchronous brain and intravascular B-cell lymphoma after remission of an adult hemophagocytic syndrome

Omission of etoposide in the treatment of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to primary central nervous system lymphoma with satisfactory response

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory condition that can be either familial or acquired and, if untreated, frequently results in multiorgan failure and death. Treatment of HLH typically requires a combination of glucocorticoids and cytotoxic chemotherapy. We describe the case of a woman who presented with signs and symptoms concerning for HLH who was later found to have a primary central nervous system (CNS) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Her HLH symptoms were successfully treated with high doses of dexamethasone, and her primary CNS lymphoma was treated with high-dose methotrexate and rituximab. This is a rare case of HLH secondary to primary CNS lymphoma where HLH was controlled with steroids alone and did not require the use of an etoposide-based regimen or cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

Epstein Virus Barr-Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Associated with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and often fatal disease if not diagnosed and treated promptly. HLH can be due to genetic factors or infections, malignancies and collagen-associated vascular diseases. Malignancy-associated HLH is not only more common in the setting of T/NK-cell lymphomas, but may also rarely be seen in the setting of B-cell lymphoma. Here, we describe a unique case of a patient who initially was diagnosed with HLH secondary to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection and subsequently developed EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma affecting the brain. This case highlights the spectrum of findings associated with EBV infections and the challenges in diagnosing underlying diseases associated with HLH.

A Small Case Series of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Unexpected Findings: Subset of Cases with Concomitant Extravascular Central Nervous System (CNS) Involvement Mimicking Primary CNS Lymphoma

Background

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal lymphoma with growth mainly in the lumina of vessels. We studied a small series of IVLBCL and focused on its central nervous system (CNS) involvement.

Methods

Searching the medical records of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, we identified five cases of IVLBCL from January 2007 to January 2015. Clinical information, hematoxylin and eosin stained histologic slides and immunohistochemistry studies were reviewed for all cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy and light chain gene rearrangement was performed on all five cases.

Results

Three of the five cases of IVLBCL were autopsies. Patients’ age ranged from 56 to 84. CNS involvement was present in two cases—in both patients, the CNS involvement showed an extravascular pattern with confluent sheet-like formation. PCR analysis confirmed that in one case the systemic intravascular and CNS extravascular components were clonally identical.

Conclusions

In a small case series of IVLBCL, we observed that CNS involvement by IVLBCL often has an extravascular morphology, but is clonally identical to the intravascular counterpart by PCR analysis. As IVLBCL can have a rapidly progressing poor outcome, it should be kept in the differential diagnoses for patients presenting with lymphoma of the CNS. The presence of extravascular growth patterns in the CNS should not exclude IVLBCL as a diagnosis.

Synchronous brain and intravascular B-cell lymphoma after remission of an adult hemophagocytic syndrome

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adult patients with white matter disease. Brain involvement can be life‐threatening and should prompt aggressive therapy. Even after HLH remission, the possibility of subsequent deterioration due to emergence of an aggressive intravascular lymphoma is highlighted here.