Midline granuloma presenting as orbital cellulitis

NK/T-cell lymphoma of the nasal cavity causing contralateral dacryoadenitis

PURPOSE

To report a case of NK/T-cell lymphoma of the nasal cavity with contralateral lacrimal gland involvement.

METHODS

Observational case report.

RESULTS

A 39-year-old woman with a 5-month history of right fungal rhinosinusitis was referred to our hospital. A nasal mucosal biopsy performed before referral was consistent with Aspergillus sp. Despite surgical and parenteral antifungal treatment, the symptoms continued to deteriorate. On admission, the ophthalmic evaluation showed inflammation over the left lacrimal gland area. The fundus examination revealed bilateral subretinal infiltration. Computed tomography scans of the orbits and sinuses showed mucosal thickening of the right nasal mucosa and sinuses. There was heterogeneous enhancement and infiltration of the left lacrimal gland. Lacrimal gland biopsy and repeated biopsies of the nasal cavity and sinus tissue were performed. Immunohistopathology of the lacrimal glands and nasal mucosa showed extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, prednisolone (3 cycles), and intrathecal methotrexate. The patient developed sepsis and died 2 months after initiation of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Dacryoadenitis can be a clinical manifestation of NK/T-cell lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma with contralateral dacryoadenitis.

Mucor irregularis infection and lethal midline granuloma: a case report and review of published literature

Mucor irregularis (Rhizomucor variabilis) infection and lethal midline granuloma (LMG) are characterized by progressive swelling, ulceration, and destruction of the central face that is usually fatal. Pathological features are inflammation, necrosis, and granulation. LMG has been called by various names, and in recent years, it has been known as NK/T cell lymphoma. However, diagnosis still relies on the progressive necrosis course rather than malignancy in histology. The disease has long challenged physicians, particularly when it worsens with radiotherapy or chemotherapy but sometimes achieves total remission without anti-malignancy therapies. We describe a 35-year-old man who had typical clinical-pathological symptoms of LMG, which turned out to be primary M. irregularis infection; that was diagnosed by positive tissue culture and fungal elements in histology. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B, total 4,600 mg and amphotericin B total 277 mg, over a duration of 70 days). We hereby review current knowledge about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, radiographic characteristics, and pathologic features of LMG with those of M. irregularis infection and their associations. We conclude that primary M. irregulars infection can mimic the clinico-pathological symptoms of LMG and the condition responds favorably to aggressive antifungal therapy.

Ocular involvement in nasal natural killer T-cell lymphoma

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of a case of paranasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) with ocular involvement.

CASE REPORT

In March 2005 the patient presented with a maxillary sinusitis and upper nasal obstruction. In July she underwent a nasal computed tomography (CT) scan and multiple biopsies of the granulomatous tissue in the nasal fossae. The diagnosis was NK/T non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nasal type, stage IV A. Afterwards she presented anterior uveitis. In September after the diagnosis of lymphoma the patient underwent a bone marrow biopsy and thoracic and abdominal CT scan. An ophthalmic examination including visual acuity assessment and fundoscopic examination was made. In October she started chemotherapy cycles. Maxillary CT scan and ophthalmic examinations were performed during the cycles. In January 2006 after severe recurrences of panuveitis a diagnostic vitrectomy was performed.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of T-lymphoma cells in the vitreous was made; the tumor was most likely originating from her paranasal NKTL. The condition of the patient deteriorated rapidly and she expired on February 2006.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal and paranasal sinus lymphomas are rare, but aggressive diseases with a tendency to invade tissues and spread to CNS, including the eye. Ocular manifestations prior to systemic ones may be useful to monitor the response to therapy.

[Primary nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphomas: classification and clinicopathological features]

BACKGROUND

Nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas are rare malignancies in Europe or North America. Histological diagnosis is difficult, because tumors imbedded in large necrotic areas and neoplastic infiltrates may be admixed with small lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and histiocytes, and thus the process could be misdiagnosed as chronic inflammation. Progression of the disease leads to septal perforation and may also result in destruction of the hard palate, and if left untreated it ends fatally. This introduced the term "lethal midline granuloma", a term which should not be used any more.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinical features, pathohistology, and current classification of primary nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas are described against the background of the recent literature and a case report.

RESULTS

Immunophenotyping is essential for the diagnosis. Tumor cells are uniformly infected by Epstein-Barr virus, which could be verified by EBER in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells are positive for CD56, cytoplasmic CD3epsilon, and CD2 and they express cytotoxic molecules like granzyme B, TIA-1, GMP17, and perforin. Therapeutic options are radio- or radiochemotherapy. On average, 2- and 5-year survival rates of 50% are obtained in stages I and II. The prognosis of advanced tumor stages is very poor.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunohistochemical and molecular genetic early diagnosis is of crucial prognostic relevance.

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with ocular and adnexal involvement

PURPOSE

To review the clinical, radiological, and histopathologic features in 8 patients with natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) involving the orbit and/or ocular adnexa, and to describe the responses of these patients to various treatment regimens.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight patients (5 male, 3 female) with NKTL involving the orbit and/or ocular adnexa were identified from 1999 through 2005. The mean age at presentation was 45 years (range, 26-65).

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with NKTL of the ocular adnexa treated in the authors' medical centers from 1999 through 2004 using computerized diagnostic index retrieval. The clinical records and radiologic studies were analyzed to define modes of presentation and progression, response to therapy, and areas of anatomic involvement. Histopathologic findings, including the presence of CD3, CD56, and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded mRNA in each patient, were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Time of survival from presentation to last known follow-up and tumor-related death.

RESULTS

Four of the 8 patients (50%) with NKTL involving the orbit or ocular adnexa had systemic involvement at presentation. Five of the 8 patients (62.5%) had concurrent sinonasal involvement, whereas 3 (37.5%) had orbital involvement alone. All lesions demonstrated CD3, CD56, and/or Epstein-Barr virus positivity on immunopathology studies. Therapy consisted of various chemotherapeutic regimens typically employed in the treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, steroids, surgical intervention, and radiation. Seven (87.5%) patients died 5 weeks to 13 months after presentation, and 1 (12.5%) is alive without disease (5-year follow-up).

CONCLUSIONS

Natural killer/T-cell orbital lymphoma is a rare Epstein-Barr virus-associated neoplasm that may occur with or without associated sinonasal involvement. Our series, the largest cohort reported to date, demonstrates the high lethality of this condition despite aggressive conventional therapy, suggesting that new treatment options should be considered early in the course of treatment of patients with this disorder.

T-Cell Sinonasal Lymphoma Presenting as Acute Orbit With Extraocular Muscle Infiltration

We describe a rare case of sinonasal T-cell lymphoma in an 11-year-old boy who presented with a right acute orbit characterized by proptosis, eyelid edema and erythema, limitation of eye movements, and excruciating pain on the right side of his face. Orbital computed tomography showed progressive right extraocular muscle enlargement. One biopsy specimen showed extensive tissue necrosis and an infiltrate of atypical cells with pleomorphic nuclei within the walls of blood vessels. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that these cells were positive for leucocyte common antigen (CD45), CD3 cytoplasmic, CD45RO, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and negative for CD20, CD57, CD56, CD99 and Epstein-Barr virus. Chemotherapy for T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma was initiated, but the patient's status deteriorated and the child died of respiratory insufficiency, sepsis, and central nervous system infection.

Vision-threatening complications of nasal T/NK lymphoma

PURPOSE

Nasal T/NK lineage lymphoma, previously known as lethal midline granuloma, is common among Oriental, Native-American, and Hispanic patients and is invariably associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Nasal localization, local necrosis, angioinvasion, and aggressive behavior are hallmarks of the disease. Ophthalmologic symptoms and signs may precede lymphoma diagnosis or complicate its disease course. We aim to define the incidence and disease pattern of ophthalmic involvement.

DESIGN

Retrospective single-institution consecutive interventional case series.

METHODS

Records of all lymphoma patients from 1996 to 2000 were retrieved from a computer database, and the primary sites and lineage were reviewed. Nasal T/NK lymphoma was defined by a combination of morphology, positive CD3 epsilon and CD56 expression, in situ hybridization staining for Epstein-Barr virus expressed RNA (EBER), and negative staining for B cell markers (CD20 and CD79a).

RESULTS

Thirty-five consecutive patients with T/NK lymphoma were identified. Primary nasal or nasopharyngeal disease was found in 24 patients. Six (25%) of the 24 patients suffered from vision-threatening complications of two distinct categories, namely uveitis/vitritis and orbital infiltration. The former preceded the diagnosis of lymphoma in two patients and also led to novel ocular complications like rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and macular hole that were successfully managed by ocular surgery. In four patients, orbital extension of lymphomatous disease accompanied biopsy-proven in-field disease relapse. Generally, the prognosis is grave, but remission can still be achieved with aggressive combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Both oncologists and ophthalmologists should be aware of ocular complications when dealing with known or suspected cases of T/NK lymphoma at diagnosis and relapse. Regular ophthalmic assessment of these patients is warranted.