Diagnosis and characterization of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with acute renal failure

Abdominal pain in a 5-year-old girl with bilateral nephromegaly: Answers

Renal involvement in non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a recognized development, but it mostly follows a diagnosis of lymphoma. We describe a rare case of a T-cell-type non-Hodgkin lymphoma that first presents as nephromegaly in a 5-year-old girl admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Further investigation revealed bilateral nephromegaly, but the results of blood tests, imaging studies, and bone marrow aspiration were inconclusive. During the second week of hospitalization, significant physical examination revealed an enlarged lymph node in the anterior cervical chains, confirming a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This case illustrates that it is important to have a high degree of suspicion in any patient presenting with unexplained enlarged kidneys without any identifiable cause because it could be the first presentation of a hematologic malignancy.

Precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma presenting as primary renal lymphoma with acute renal failure

We report a case of acute renal failure (ARF) and bilateral nephromegaly in a patient with a history of Crohn’s disease and treatment with azathioprine. Kidney biopsy revealed diffuse renal infiltration by precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). At the time of diagnosis, no extrarenal manifestations of the lymphoma were detectable and therefore the lymphoma was categorized as primary renal lymphoma (PRL). Thus far, precursor T-LBL presenting as PRL has not been described before. We emphasize that in patients with ARF and bilateral renal enlargement, renal lymphoma is an important differential diagnostic consideration.

Renal disease in patients with cancer

Kidney disease is very common in patients with cancer. Nephrologists are vital members of the multidisciplinary care team for these patients. Given the high prevalence of comorbidities in patients treated for active malignancy, it is not surprising that these individuals frequently develop renal diseases that are common among other hospitalized patients, such as those arising from sepsis, hypotension or use of nephrotoxic agents (e.g. radiocontrast or antimicrobial agents). The role of the nephrologist in these cases differs little with respect to the presence or absence of cancer. On the other hand, there are several renal syndromes that are unique to patients with cancer, being caused either by the cancer itself or by its treatment. These syndromes are reviewed here. In addition, patients who are receiving chemotherapy often require dialysis for either acute or chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, there is very little information on the clearance characteristics of most chemotherapeutic agents. In cancer patients with renal disease, both the timing of administration and the dose-adjustment of chemotherapy must rely on clinical experience and close clinical observation.

A rare case of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma presenting as acute renal failure

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATCL) is a high grade, pleomorphic peripheral T-cell lymphoma usually with cytotoxic phenotypes. We describe a first case of patient with EATCL that is remarkable for its fulminant course and invasion of both kidneys manifested as acute renal failure. The patient was a 23 year old woman with a long history of celiac disease. She was presented with acute renal failure and enlarged mononuclear infiltrated kidneys. Diagnosis of tubuloi-nterstitial nephritis and polyserositis was confirmed with consecutive pulse doses of steroid therapy. After reco-very, she had disseminated disease two months later. Magnetic resonance imaging showed thickened intestine wall, extremely augmented kidneys, enlarged intra-abdominal lymph nodes with extra-luminal compression of common bile duct. Laparotomy with mesenterial adipous tissue and lymph glands biopsy was done. Consecutive pathophysiological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the diagnosis of EATCL: CD45RO+, CD43+, CD3+. The revision of renal pathophysiology sub-stantiated the diagnosis. The patient received chemotherapy, but unfortunately she died manifesting signs of pulmonary embolism caused by tumor cells.

Renal Involvement of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Its Prognostic Effect in Childhood

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate renal involvement in childhood lymphoma and define its prognostic effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and four patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and renal involvement on admission to a single center between 1972 and 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, and lactate dehydrogenase levels, as well as urinalysis, were evaluated. One or more of the following imaging methods were performed: intravenous urogram, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The chi2 test was used to compare the groups. The Kaplan-Meier survival method was used to calculate survival rates, and the log-rank test was used to compare groups with respect to survival. Survival rates were also compared in two different time periods (before 1991 and after 1991).

RESULTS

There were 76 boys and 28 girls with a median age of 6 (0.9-16) years. The renal infiltration pattern was nodular in 62 patients (59.6%) and diffuse in 40 patients (38.5%). Two patients had tumoral masses that originated from their kidneys (1.9%). Renal involvement was bilateral in 75 patients (72.1%); the remaining 29 patients had unilateral involvement. The overall survival rate was 42.5% with a median follow-up of 64 months. The factors that had a statistically significant impact on survival were high creatinine (p = 0.00001) and blood urea nitrogen levels (p = 0.0001), the onset of tumor lysis syndrome (p = 0.01), and the need for dialysis (p = 0.009). The survival rate was higher in the time period after 1991 (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Impaired renal function is a poor prognostic factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Renal function should therefore be monitored closely. Renal dysfunction caused by direct tumoral involvement may complicate therapy and shorten survival.

Lymphomas diagnosed by percutaneous kidney biopsy

BACKGROUND

Occult renal lymphoma clinically mimicking renal medical disease constitutes a diagnostic challenge to nephrologists, radiologists, and renal pathologists. The clinical and radiological findings, mostly nonspecific or inconclusive, seldom obviate the need for a kidney biopsy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We report 5 new cases of diffuse bilateral renal lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous kidney biopsy, all presenting with acute renal failure (ARF) of unknown cause. Three cases showed an interstitial and 2 an intraglomerular/intravascular type of lymphomatous infiltration. All tumors were of B-cell lineage. Our cases add to 50 similar cases reported since 1980. Considering all 55 cases together, 39 (87%) of the 44 cases with interstitial and 5 of 11 (45%) of those with intraglomerular lymphoma presented with ARF. In contrast, 5 of 10 cases with intraglomerular but none with interstitial infiltration presented with nephrotic range proteinuria. All but 2 cases (95%) with ARF and interstitial lymphoma but none with ARF and intraglomerular lymphoma showed bilaterally enlarged kidneys. Signs of extrarenal lymphomatous involvement were detected in 24 cases (44%) at the time of kidney biopsy or shortly thereafter. However, in only 10 cases (18%), all with interstitial lymphoma, was a tumor suspected prior to biopsy, mainly based on radiographical evidence of enlarged kidneys.

CONCLUSION

Both types of diffuse bilateral renal lymphoma may clinically mimic renal medical disease. ARF in interstitial and in intraglomerular lymphoma may be due to increased intrarenal pressure and intraglomerular obstruction, respectively. Percutaneous kidney biopsy provides the most expedient means of establishing the diagnosis. Differential diagnosis includes interstitial nephritis and proliferative glomerulonephritis.

[Dysfunction of a kidney allograft with life-threatening results]

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious complication after organ transplantation. We describe the case of a 45-year old patient who developed an EBV associated B-cell lymphoma in a cadaveric renal allograft. This case underscores the importance of considering PTLD as possible differential diagnosis for allograft dysfunction. Careful diagnostic evaluation should be undertaken in patients who present with risk factors for development of PTLD such as high doses of immunosuppression for rejection therapy, suspicious EBV serologies or negative EBV serologies before transplantation. PTLD can be of donor or recipient origin. Independent of its origin PTLD needs an immediate therapy which depends on the histology of the lymphoma and on the clinical conditions of the patient. Therapeutic options are reduction of the immunosuppression, chemotherapy or radiation, administration of lymphocyte-specific antibodies or removal of the kidney allograft.

Kidney involvement and renal manifestations in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia: a retrospective study in 700 patients

Renal involvement as part of systemic lymphoma (LY) is quite frequent, however, primary extranodal renal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is extremely rare, and only about 65 cases have been reported in the world literature. In a retrospective study of renal manifestations in 700 patients with documented LY and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) seen at our hospital during 1986-95, 83 patients had signs of acute renal failure. Only five of these had proven renal infiltration, but none of them satisfied the criteria for primary renal LY. Glomerulonephritis (GN) has also rarely been reported in association with LY and CLL, and only 37 glomerular lesions in NHL and 42 in CLL have been documented, respectively. GN may precede, coexist, or follow the diagnosis of LY by several years. Of the 42 cases of CLL reported worldwide, 36 had nephrotic syndrome. Renal failure was seen in about one third. The most common glomerular lesion reported is membranoproliferative GN, followed by membranous GN. In our study, we found only five biopsy-proven cases with GN amongst the 700 patients seen. In this report we also briefly describe some rare interesting associated renal syndromes in CLL and NHL.

Acute renal failure as presentation of a Burkitt's lymphoma

Acute renal failure due to diffuse renal infiltration is rarely the presenting manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We report a patient with acute renal failure secondary to diffuse bilateral renal infiltration by a Burkitt's lymphoma. The presence of bilateral renal enlargement, an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lymphopenia should suggest the diagnosis, which can be confirmed by renal biopsy.

Acute renal failure secondary to solid tumor renal metastases: case report and review of the literature

Renal metastases from solid tumors to both kidneys rarely result in acute renal failure (ARF). We present a case of squamous cell pulmonary carcinoma responsible for ARF due to (1) extensive (50% to 75%) bilateral parenchymal infiltration and replacement accompanied by tissue destruction, (2) widespread vascular invasion and thrombosis resulting in ischemia, and (3) histological evidence for foci of distal intratubular obstruction and pyelonephritis. Five additional cases, including one pulmonary cancer, causing ARF from extensive tissue replacement and destruction are reviewed. In a separate case, ARF resulted from lymphatic metastases rather than from parenchymal destruction or obstruction. Common findings in all six reported cases include bilaterally enlarged kidneys and progressive oligoanuria despite correction of prerenal or postrenal conditions. In our patient and in one other prior reported case, extrarenal obstruction was not considered important because invasive therapeutic procedures were unsuccessful in reversing ARF. In one case, irradiation of kidney tumor resulted in reversal of ARF. These cases emphasize the rare potential for solid tumors to metastasize to both kidneys and result in irreversible oligoanuric ARF. A high level of suspicion is required, and an early diagnosis may result in reversible ARF if the tumor is amenable to chemotherapy or irradiation.

Primary bilateral B-cell renal lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature

Renal lymphoma is commonly secondary to lymphomatous infiltration of the kidneys in disseminated lymphoma and advanced stage IV disease. We describe a 57-year-old white woman presenting with an acute renal failure due to a bilateral "primary" B-cell lymphoma infiltration of the kidneys. The diagnosis of the lymphoma was made by renal biopsy. The striking feature observed was a destructive infiltration of the kidney by a malignant B-cell lymphoma that left the renal capsule intact, without any sign of secondary localization on the hilar regions. Physical examination did not reveal any peripheral lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. A bilateral infiltration of both kidneys was the only feature shown by computed tomography and renal angiography. This case raises the question of the occurrence of a primary B-cell lymphoma in a nonlymphoid organ, which was diagnosed by renal biopsy at a time when the development was exclusively renal in origin.

B-cell lymphoma presenting as infiltrative renal disease

Acute renal failure is rarely the presenting manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Of the reported cases of renal insufficiency secondary to diffuse renal infiltration with lymphoma, few have presented with acute renal failure. We present a patient with acute renal failure secondary to diffuse bilateral renal infiltration by a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The findings of an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lymphopenia, and homogenous bilateral renal enlargement on computed tomographic (CT) imaging were important in suggesting the diagnosis of primary renal lymphoma. Renal biopsy with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis was instrumental in confirming this diagnosis.