Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers: Single-Center Experience of 33 Turkish Patients

Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers in Axillary Lymph Nodes Mimicking Metastatic Lymphadenopathy after Breast Cancer Surgery: A Case Report

Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is a rarely diagnosed, benign disease of the lymph nodes that commonly manifests as chronic lymphadenopathy. PTGC may be characterized by single or multiple non-tender lymph nodes, and it commonly involves the cervical, axillary, and inguinal areas. Although PTGC is identified with concurrent lymphoma in some patients, it is not considered as a premalignant entity. Histopathologic diagnosis of PTGC is rarely made, and imaging findings have been reported in very few studies. We present a case of PTGC that occurred at the contralateral axillary lymph nodes and mimicked metastatic lymphadenopathy after breast cancer surgery. We also discuss its imaging findings.

Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma in Progressive Transformation of Germinal Centers

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma is an uncommon variant of Hodgkin lymphoma. Progressive transformation of germinal centers has been associated with and can develop prior to, concurrent with, or after the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. We present a patient with a history of progressive transformation of germinal centers of the right parotid who presented 4 years later with ipsilateral parotid mass and cervical adenopathy. Knowledge of her previous diagnosis raised our concern for lymphoma, influenced our surgical management, and spared the patient additional surgery with risk of facial nerve injury inherent in revision parotidectomy.