Sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and Wegener's granulomatosis: a clinicopathological study

An update on the general management approach to common vasculitides

Primary systemic vasculitides (PSV) are multisystem diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly if not treated in a timely manner. In recent decades, clinical trials have delivered considerable evidence to underpin optimal diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This article provides a brief overview of PSV in adults, focusing on the latest updates and recommendations for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and giant cell arteritis.

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, masquerading as recalcitrant periodontitis in a patient with a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with similar presentation to various benign inflammatory diseases. Adequate biopsy is required for a diagnosis because this lymphoma frequently coexists with large amount of necrosis and inflammation. In this study, a case of a 49-year-old woman presenting with a 3-week history of right maxillary alveolar ridge pain with a subsequent diagnosis of periodontitis is described. The patient's clinical condition deteriorated over a period of 6 weeks. Computed tomography delineated involvement of the right maxillary sinus, posterior part of the right pharynx and right nasal cavity. Immunohistopathology initially revealed Wegener's granulomatosis, followed by extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma. Severe refractory periodontitis in a background of Wegener's granulomatosis may be the initial presentation of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type. In addition to careful examination, radiographic and laboratory testing, multiple large biopsies should be taken for immunohistochemical analysis to obtain an appropriate diagnosis.

How could we make a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis?

Current classification criteria function poorly in diagnosing Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). In this study, we presented a patient with sinonasal symptoms, hematuria, and proteinuria, who had been misdiagnosed as a patient suffering from WG, but finally turned out to be a patient suffering from non-Hodgkin's T cell lymphoma. Diagnostic approach of WG was also discussed.

MALT lymphoma of the paranasal sinuses and the hard palate: report of two cases and review of the literature

Extra-nodal low-grade B-cell lymphomas arising in the gastrointestinal tract recapitulate the structure and features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, called "MALT lymphomas." In the head and neck region except for the salivary glands the occurrence of this neoplasm is very rare. The authors report on two such cases of MALT lymphoma, one of the hard palate in a 71-year-old woman and the other of the paranasal sinuses in a 69-year-old woman with the history of chronic sinusitis. Such chronic inflammatory conditions can induce the development of MALT lymphoma. Clinical elaboration should include computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of tumor extension, bone destruction, lymph node involvement and differentiation of mucosal thickening from tumor mass. Biopsy for histopathological diagnosis is mandatory. Treatment should be surgery, irradiation or combined radio-chemotherapy depending on the stage of the disease.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the salivary glands. An analysis of 22 cases

Twenty-two patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P-NHL) of the salivary glands have been studied with reference to age, sex, clinical symptoms, location of primary tumor, histological subtype, grade of malignancy according to the Working Formulation, stage of disease, treatment and follow up. The clinical features corresponded with previously reported data on salivary gland lymphomas. The most frequent histological diagnosis was MALT lymphoma. Most patients had a localised low-grade lymphoma. Overall survival was influenced by grade of malignancy according to the Working Formulation.

Experience of radiotherapy in lethal midline granuloma with special emphasis on centrofacial T-cell lymphoma: a retrospective analysis covering a 34-year period

Lethal midline granuloma (LMG) is characterized by progressive ulceration and destruction of the midfacial tissue. It occurs more frequently in Oriental than in Western populations. Because of the progress in clinical pathology and immunohistochemistry, most cases have been proven to be malignant lymphomas, especially of T-cell lineage. We describe 92 cases of lethal midline granuloma or centrofacial malignant lymphoma in the period 1959-1993. All received complete courses of radiotherapy. Twenty of them also received combination chemotherapy. Thirty-six cases had specimens available for immunohistochemical study; 25 (69%) of these had a T-cell phenotype, and 6 (17%) were of B-cell lineage. The dose to the nasal region was in the range of 3000-7500 cGy in 11-58 days, and to the neck 3000-6400 cGy in 11-48 days. The overall survival rate for the LMGs was 59.5% at 5 years and 56.2% at 10 years (Kaplan-Meier). Combined chemotherapy seemed not to improve the overall survival in this study (p = 0.63), but the patient number was too small to make a firm conclusion. Based on the results of this study, we recommend a dose of 4500-5000 cGy to the midfacial region, since a higher dosage did not improve the treatment results (p = 0.88). Irradiation has a definite role in good locoregional control of this disease. The recent clarification of the disease nature and the recognition of the background clinicopathological features should provide valuable information for future patient management and prospective studies.

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the oral cavity. An analysis of 34 cases

34 patients with primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PE-NHL) of the oral cavity have been studied with reference to age, sex, clinical symptoms, location of primary tumour, histological subtype, grade of malignancy according to the Working Formulation, stage of disease, treatment and follow-up. The clinicopathological features of these oral PE-NHL correspond with those of PE-NHL in general. Survival was influenced by stage of disease and grade of malignancy.