Primary low-grade hepatic B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type

A Case of Primary Hepatic Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in a Patient With Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a low-grade malignant lymphoproliferative disease, representing a low percentage of newly diagnosed lymphoma cases. Although its exact cause is still unclear, it is commonly associated with infections or autoimmune diseases. The stomach is the most frequent site for MALT lymphoma, with primary hepatic MALT lymphoma being exceptionally rare. Cases of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma often coincide with viral hepatitis. In this report, we present a case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma in a patient with no history of hepatitis but complicated by primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Primary hepatic extranodal marginal zone B-cell mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma treated by laparoscopic partial hepatectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND

Primary hepatic extranodal marginal zone B-cell mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is very rare, so it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. And there is no established treatment for hepatic MALT lymphoma. We report herein a case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma treated by laparoscopic partial hepatectomy, and discuss the usefulness of laparoscopic hepatectomy for a rare liver tumor.

CASE PRESENTATION

This patient was a woman in her 60s, who was diagnosed preoperatively as having synchronous liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer; therefore, laparoscopic partial hepatectomy was performed. She had a good course after the operation and was discharged on postoperative day 12. However, she was diagnosed pathologically as having primary hepatic MALT lymphoma. A bone marrow biopsy was also performed, and then she was finally diagnosed as having limited-stage primary hepatic MALT lymphoma. She received no postoperative treatment and showed no recurrence for 4 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

We experienced the good result of the patient with limited-stage primary MALT lymphoma treated by laparoscopic partial hepatectomy. Liver tumors are sometimes misdiagnosed by imaging examinations alone. Laparoscopic hepatectomy has been widespread recently as a minimally invasive procedure, and it may be useful for both diagnosis and treatment.

A rare cause of multiple liver masses

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare disease. However, if atypical hepatic masses are observed, hepatic MALT lymphoma should be considered in the differential.

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare disease, and there is no consensus yet on the treatment modalities. Here, we report a new case of MALT lymphoma and review the current literature on this disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our department following the incidental finding of a solitary 1.8-cm diameter mass in the liver.

DIAGNOSIS

Microscopic findings identified the mass as a tumor with infiltration of diffuse atypical B lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positivity for CD20 and CD79a, and negativity for CD3 and CD5. These collective data led to the diagnosis of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma.

INTERVENTIONS

The tumor was removed by surgical resection. The patient refused additional treatment after the surgery.

OUTCOMES

At the time of writing this report, the patient has been disease free for 6 months postsurgery.

LESSONS

Review of the previously published case reports on this rare tumor type indicates that in addition to chronic liver inflammation due to infection or other reasons, genetic aberrations can also contribute to the development of hepatic MALT lymphoma. Additionally, IgH rearrangement is a good genetic hallmark of this tumor. Owing to no specific clinical or radiologic features to define the disease profile for diagnosis, surgery may be a good choice for both diagnosis and therapy if the patient's condition permits.

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic pseudolymphoma

Pseudolymphoma, also known as reactive lymphoid hyperplasia or nodular lymphoid lesion, can occur in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, eyelids, skin, etc.; however, pseudolymphoma of the liver rarely occurs. Because of the small number of individual case reports of hepatic pseudolymphoma in most institutions, there is a lack of information available regarding its pathogenesis, optimal treatment, and prognosis. Patients with hepatic pseudolymphoma often present non-specific clinical and imaging features, without specific tumor markers. The diagnosis of this disease mainly depends on postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical evaluations and genetic examination; timely and complete surgical resection is currently the most important treatment.

Primary hepatic lymphoma: A rare case report

Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is a rare clinical entity comprising 0.016% of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 0.4% of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and can be missed easily. Here, we report a case of PHL treated with primary hepatic resection followed by an Rituximab Cyclophosphamide Doxorubicin Vincristine Prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy regimen, diagnosed after postoperative biopsy report. The patient presented with complaints of pain abdomen, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. She had hepatomegaly and no other significant finding. Blood investigations were unremarkable. Biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was not taken before surgery. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated well-defined solid mass with central hypodense fluid attenuating area in the liver with a thin pseudocapsule. The differential diagnoses considered were secondary to the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hemangioma. Left hepatectomy with the removal of the middle hepatic vein was performed. The postoperative biopsy was reported as diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the liver.

Primary Hepatic Lymphoma Mimicking a Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Cirrhotic Patient: Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature

Introduction

Primary hepatic lymphomas (PHLs) are rare liver tumors, frequently misdiagnosed preoperatively. As these tumors could be successfully treated with chemotherapy, their early recognition is essential, potentially, to avoid useless surgery. We report on the case of a cirrhotic patient with hemochromatosis who presented a PHL, initially diagnosed as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and we analyze recent data from the literature on this subject.

Case Presentation and Review of the Literature

A 45 mm liver tumor was found is a 68-year-old man with alcohol cirrhosis and hemochromatosis. At imaging, the diagnosis of HCC was suspected according to vascular characteristics and the presence of cirrhosis. FDG PET scan showed a solitary hypermetabolic liver tumor. Tumor markers were negative. Surgery consisted in left lateral hepatectomy. At pathology, the diagnosis of the primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type was demonstrated. Twenty-two articles reporting 33 cases of true PHL of MALT type were found. Presentation lacked specific symptoms (70% asymptomatic). Half of patients were suspected to have other etiologies of liver mass (HCC, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), and thus diagnosis was established postoperatively. In the patient, diagnosis was made by preoperative biopsy, and chemotherapy was first-line treatment.

Discussion

Preoperative diagnosis of PHL, and particularly of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma, is challenging. This case illustrates that PHL remains to be considered among the differential diagnosis of isolated solid liver tumors. Further, it indicates that biopsy could be still indicated in case of suspected HCC in cirrhotic patients, particularly in the presence of unusual findings such as the combination of a FDG PET scan positive tumor in the absence of elevated alpha-fetoprotein.

Hepatic Lymphoma Diagnosis

Systemic hematopoietic disorders may present on liver biopsy, and rare cases of primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) may be encountered. Hepatopathologists must be familiar with the full spectrum of hematopoietic disorders involving the liver and be prepared to exclude benign mimics. PHL, which is confined to the liver without extrahepatic involvement, can present as solitary or multiple nodules, raising consideration for carcinoma on imaging, or may mimic benign inflammatory conditions, posing a diagnostic challenge. This article describes clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic features of some of the most common hematopoietic neoplasms involving the liver, along with differential diagnosis and recommended ancillary testing.

Prognostic value of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is extremely rare and we herein report a case of a patient suffering from primary hepatic MALT lymphoma with concomitant hepatitis B virus infection.

DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES AND OUTCOME

Double masses were found in a 59-year-old Chinese female patient. We reported the laboratory results, computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT images among other findings. As far as we know, only 9 cases have been reported till now using F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Our patient's lesions were found to conform to standard uptake values of FDG.

CONCLUSION

It indicates that hepatic MALT lymphoma can be studied with F-FDG PET/CT like other F-FDG-avid lymphomas. It was also noted that delayed-time-point FDG PET imaging may further improve the detection of the MALT lymphoma in liver. Although the patient in this case refused further treatment, potential management options, including rituximab, which is also discussed in this review.

Primary hepatic extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an extremely rare disease. To the best of our knowledge, only 67 cases had been reported in 39 English literatures to date. The aim of this study was to add a new case of this disease to the literature and to review the current literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 50-year-old man was incidentally identified with a solitary mass of 5 cm in diameter in the left lobe of the liver.

DIAGNOSES

Based on the results of imaging studies, intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma was suspected, and then surgery was performed. Microscopic findings showed that the tumor was a hepatic MALT lymphoma, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the lymphoma cells were CD20+, CD79a+, BCL-2+, CD3-, and CD5-.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient received rituximab after surgery.

OUTCOMES

He was free of disease for 13 months at the time of this report.

LESSONS

Since previously published case reports and our case described nonspecific clinical features of this rare disease, it was usually misdiagnosed before histological confirmation and surgery resection may be a good choice for both diagnosis and local therapy.

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a case report and literature review

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an extremely rare disease. We herein describe the findings in a 74-year-old man with elevated liver enzyme levels. Dynamic computed tomography showed focal biliary dilation and atrophy in the posterior segment, while dynamic magnetic resonance images revealed a small, highly enhanced small mass located at the root of posterior branch of the biliary ducts. As the mass was not detected on abdominal ultrasonography, a biopsy could not be performed. Cholangiocellular carcinoma was suspected, and surgery was performed. However, the surgically resected hepatic tumor was a nodule of aggregated lymphocytes that formed a lymphoepithelial lesion. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the lymphoma cells were positive for CD20 and CD79a, but negative for CD3. No other lymphoid lesions were found during additional postoperative examinations. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with primary hepatic MALT lymphoma. He was also diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection, and thus, pylorus eradication was performed. At the time of this report, the patient was free of disease for 2 years without any additional treatment. The present case contributed to the diagnosis and management of this rare disease, as previously published case reports described varying imaging features; it also suggested that preoperative diagnosis was often difficult without biopsy.

A case of contiguous primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and hemangioma ultimately diagnosed using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell malignant lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is extremely rare. We present a case in which a lesion was diagnosed as 2 contiguous tumors (MALT lymphoma and hemangioma) using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (US) with sonazoid. There has been no previous case of contiguous hepatic MALT lymphoma and hemangioma. The present case was a female with no medical history. We detected a snowman-like appearance, which was a tumor of 15 mm in diameter with hypo- and hyper-echogenicities in the lateral and medial parts, respectively, in the Couinaud's segment (S6) of the liver on US. The tumor appeared as a single lesion with a low-density area in the unenhanced phase and prolonged enhancement in the equilibrium phases on dynamic CT. On MRI, the whole lesion showed a low-intensity signal on T1-weighted imaging, but isointensity in the lateral part and high intensity in the medial part were seen on T2-weighted imaging. On contrast-enhanced US, the lateral hypoechoic region was homogenously hyperenhanced in the early vascular phase, and the contrast medium was washed out after about 30 s; in contrast, the medial hyperechoic region was gradually stained from the margin toward the central region. The tumor showed a defect in both hypo- and hyperechoic regions in the postvascular phase. Hemangioma was suspected for the medial part based on the typical image findings, but the lateral part was not given a diagnosis. Thus, surgical resection was performed. The medial part was a hemangioma, and the lateral part was a MALT lymphoma by histopathological findings.

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the liver: a clinicopathological study of 7 cases

Background. Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) of the liver is a benign focal liver mass that may mimic a malignant liver tumor. Although rarely encountered in clinical practice, it often poses diagnostic and management dilemmas. Methods. Cases diagnosed as hepatic RLH between January 1996 and June 2011 were investigated in a retrospective study. Clinicopathological features as well as follow-up information of the cases were studied. Results. A total of seven cases of hepatic RLH were investigated, with a median age of 46 years (range: 33–76 years). Hepatic RLH was accompanied by concomitant diseases in some patients. The average size of hepatic lesions of our cases was 45 mm (range: 15–105 mm). All of the cases were not accurately diagnosed until confirmed by pathological findings, and surgical resections were performed for all. Postoperative course was uneventful for all of the patients during followup. Conclusions. RLH of the liver is a rare benign disease with a female predilection of unknown etiology. It is very difficult to correctly diagnose this disease without pathological results. Subtle differences on radiological findings of it may be helpful for differential diagnosis from other diseases. Curative resection of the lesion is suggested for the treatment of this disease.

Primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma : a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is a very rare malignancy, and constitutes about 0.016 % of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is often misdiagnosed. The optimal therapy is still unclear and the outcomes are uncertain. Among PHLs, a primary hepatic low-grade marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is extremely rare.

METHODS

We present a case of primary hepatic lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) treated with surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. A 38-year-old Korean man, who was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B 20 years ago, was admitted for liver biopsy after liver lesions were detected on follow-up computed tomography scan (CT). Liver biopsy revealed the diagnosis of marginal zone B-cell malignant lymphoma (MALT lymphoma). The preoperative clinical staging was IE, given that no additional foci of lymphoma were found anywhere else in the body. The patient underwent left hemihepatectomy. Subsequently, the patient received two cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen.

RESULTS

After 15 months of follow-up, the patient is alive and well without any evidence of disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Although the prognosis is variable, good response to early surgery combined with postoperative chemotherapy can be achieved in strictly selected patients.

An operative case of hepatic pseudolymphoma difficult to differentiate from primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

Hepatic pseudolymphoma (HPL) and primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) are rare diseases and the differential diagnosis between these two entities is sometimes difficult. We herein report a 56-year-old Japanese woman who was pointed out to have a space occupying lesion in the left lateral segment of the liver. Hepatitis viral-associated antigen/antibody was negative and liver function tests including lactic dehydrogenase, peripheral blood count, tumor markers and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were all within normal limit. Imaging study using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were not typical for hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or other metastatic cancer. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography examination integrated with computed tomography scanning showed high standardized uptake value in the solitary lesion in the liver. Under a diagnosis of primary liver neoplasm, laparoscopic-assisted lateral segmentectomy was performed. Liver tumor of maximal 1.0 cm in diameter was consisted of aggregation of lymphocytes of predominantly B-cell, containing multiple lymphocyte follicles positive for CD10 and bcl-2, consistent with a diagnosis of HPL rather than MALT lymphoma, although a definitive differentiation was pending. The background liver showed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/early non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The patient is currently doing well with no sign of relapse 13 months after the surgery. Since the accurate diagnosis is difficult, laparoscopic approach would provide a reasonable procedure of diagnostic and therapeutic advantage with minimal invasiveness for patients. Considering that the real nature of this entity remains unclear, vigilant follow-up of patient is essential.

[Follicular dural lymphoma. Case report]

A case of a meningeal B-cell lymphoma is described. A 48-year-old man presented with an episode of grand mal seizure following a brain injury. An initial diagnosis of extradural hematoma was made based on the results of the cerebral computerized tomography scan. Magnetic resonance images demonstrated an enhanced mass with a dural tail attached to the meningeal layer of the temporal bone, suggesting a meningioma "en plaque". The mass was surgically excised. Tumoral removal was subcomplete (Simpson 2). Operative inspection also suggested a meningioma, but histological analysis and electron microscopy revealed a grade IV follicular B-cell lymphoma. Biological studies were normal. An extensive workup found an external iliac adenopathy with several osseous locations on PET. The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Three years after the first symptoms appeared, the patient is alive and free of symptoms. The clinicopathological features and treatments were discussed.

More than a third of non-gastric malt lymphomas are disseminated at diagnosis: a single center survey

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are extranodal B-cell tumors that generally follow an indolent course. The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of MALT lymphoma, comprising 50% of all cases. The tissue lesions are often localized, have high therapeutic response rates with late relapses with a long overall survival (OS). The patients with non-gastric lesions may follow a different clinical course and many of them present with disseminated disease. This study reports a series of 51 patients with non-gastric MALT lymphoma. Twenty patients (39.2%) presented with disseminated disease, seven (13.7%) patients had two MALT mucosal sites involved and eight (15.7%) had involvement of three or more mucosal sites. At presentation, 17 (33.3%) patients had the lymph node and 12 (23.5%) the bone marrow involvement. Following various combinations of treatment, complete remission was achieved in 40 (81.6%), and partial remission in three of the 49 treated patients with no difference in response rates between different disease stages. Relapse occurred in 12/43 (27.9%) patients among whom eight (18.6%) recurred in the presenting organ system. Five patients (9.8%) died because of a rapid disease progression after a median follow-up of 56 months; two patients with primary lung lesions, 1 patient with secondary intestinal disease, and 2 patients suffered transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. No significant difference in survival was found between localized and disseminated disease (log rank 0.05, df = 1, P = 0.81). A patient age > or = 60 yr at diagnosis and presentation with the nodal disease were found to be statistically significant negative prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Median OS was not reached after 145 months of follow-up, with the estimated OS being 88% at 2 yr, and 78% at 5 yr.

Primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type: case report and review of the literature

A primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is very rare. We found a solitary mass 27 mm in size in the left lobe of the liver of a 58-year-old Japanese man with a history of hepatitis-C infection. Based on the results of imaging studies, the tumor was diagnosed as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The left lobe of the liver was lobectomized and microscopic findings showed that the tumor was a hepatic MALT lymphoma, while immunohistochemistry showed it to be positive for CD20 and CD79a. In a fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography examination integrated with computed tomography scanning (FDG-PET CT) before surgery, the tumor was revealed to have a high standardized uptake value (SUV) for FDG. The patient received chemotherapy after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, 45 cases had been reported with a mean age for all patients of 61.4 years. The pathogenesis remains unclear, although half of the patients had a past history of chronic inflammatory liver disease. Surgical resection was performed in most cases and some patients received postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The clinicopathologic characteristics and management of this extremely rare disease are also discussed.

Primary hepatic lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type: a case report with cytogenetic study

Primary hepatic lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type is extremely rare. Only 38 cases have been reported to date. A case of a 59-year-old man with Helicobacter pylori-resistant gastric ulcers and Buerger disease who was followed up since 1999 is reported. A 2-cm hepatic nodule was incidentally found during partial gastrectomy and corresponded to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma without underlying liver disease. Molecular studies showed a clonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangement. Investigations for the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma-associated translocations t(11;18) and t(14;18), as well as the t(3;14)(q27;q32), were negative, whereas trisomy 3 and trisomy 18 were detected.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the liver: clinical and therapeutic considerations

Primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a rare disease that presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Secondary liver involvement by lymphoma is common and can complicate treatment decisions. A review of the published case reports and the few larger series suggests that primary hepatic NHL represents a heterogeneous mixture of disparate diseases rather than a single entity. Presentations vary from the incidental discovery of hepatic abnormalities in an otherwise asymptomatic patient to that of fulminant hepatic failure with rapid progression of encephalopathy to coma and death. The clinical, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics are nonspecific, which means the diagnosis is often not suspected until histopathologic examination of liver tissue. There appears to be a strong association between primary hepatic NHL and the hepatitis C virus. Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma has attained its own status as a unique disease, whereas case reports suggest that the spectrum of hepatic lymphoma includes many histologies. Involvement of the liver by lymphoma can compound the difficulty of pursuing aggressive chemotherapy in patients who have a life-threatening illness and impaired metabolism of the most effective drugs. Therapy should be tailored to the individual clinical situation, with consideration of the underlying histology and degree of hepatic insufficiency.

Primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type in a liver transplant patient with hepatitis B cirrhosis

We describe the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical features of primary hepatic low grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in a liver transplant recipient with hepatitis B cirrhosis. MALT lymphomas arise in organs normally devoid of lymphoid tissue, which accumulates as a consequence of chronic antigenic stimulation associated with chronic infection or autoimmune disease. Primary hepatic MALT lymphoma is extremely rare; 13 cases have been reported worldwide to date. Our patient is the first case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma associated with hepatitis B cirrhosis who was treated with orthotopic liver transplantation.

Nodular lymphoid lesion of the liver with simultaneous focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma: discrimination from primary hepatic MALT-type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Nodular lymphoid lesion (NLL) of the liver is a rare but unique entity and has also been termed reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the liver. We describe the histological, immunohistochemical and molecular biologic findings of a case with NLL and two other tumors of the liver. The nodular lymphoid mass found in the liver was composed of heterogeneous small lymphocytes forming reactive follicles. Plasma cells, few immunoblasts, centroblasts, few macrophages, epithelioid cells, and giant cells were seen. The lymphoid infiltrate displaced the adjacent hepatic parenchyma. By immunohistochemistry and molecular studies, the lymphocytes were found to be polyclonal. The diagnosis of NLL was made. In addition to NLL, focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma were detected. The discrimination of NLL from primary hepatic malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type may pose diagnostic difficulties and may require the use of immunohistochemical and molecular techniques. The simultaneous occurrence of NLL with focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma in the liver has not been described before.

[Primary hepatic lymphoma of MALT-type: a tumor that can simulate a liver metastasis]

Primary hepatic lymphomas are rare tumors. We report a case of a 72 year-old woman with a past history of colonic adenocarcinoma who presented primary hepatic lymphoma of MALT-type. The patient had been operated on 3 years before for colonic adenocarcinoma, pT3N0, revealed by a bowel obstructive syndrome. She had been treated by chemotherapy for 6 months. During the follow-up, the computed tomography-scan (CT-scan) revealed the presence of a not well-demarcated mass in segment III of the liver, measuring 4 cm in diameter. The tumor was hypodense and was not enhanced on dynamic study. The mass was already present on the initial CT-scan. Left lobectomy was performed with the diagnosis of liver metastasis of the colonic adenocarcinoma. Surgical specimen showed a tumor composed of a dense infiltrate of small lymphocytes positive for B-cell markers on immunohistochemistry. The tumor contained reactive lymphoid follicles and there were numerous lympho-epithelial biliary lesions. The patient is alive and free of disease 2 years after the diagnosis. Primary hepatic lymphoma of MALT-type is a low-grade B cell lymphoma. Twenty-five cases had been reported in the literature so far. The patients were 16 females and 9 males, mean age 63.5 years. The pathogenesis is still unclear but half of the patients had a past history of chronic inflammatory liver disease (hepatitis B or C virus infection, ascaris infection, primary biliary cirrhosis) or malignant neoplasm. This tumor has a good prognosis; it is usually limited to the liver and surgical resection cures the patient in most cases.

Stable remission after administration of rituximab in a patient with primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma

We describe a case of primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma in a 36-year-old Caucasian male with a history of chronic hepatitis B infection. Immunohistochemically, extensive infiltration by a CD20-positive, CD5- negative and CD10-negative lymphoid cell population displaying a follicular arrangement was detected. Molecular analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements confirmed the clonal expansion of lymphoma cells. Fourteen months after surgical treatment, the tumour recurred in close proximity to the liver hilus, hampering further surgery. Therefore, we implemented a therapy using the monoclonal anti-CD20-antibody rituximab in a dose of 375 mg/m(2), administered four times once a week. Six, 10, 18, and 26 months later the recurrent lymphoma could no longer be detected as shown by abdominal ultrasonography and CT. This case report demonstrates the difficulties of treating this extremely rare liver disease and shows its response to rituximab therapy.

Hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with hepatitis B virus infection

Primary hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an extremely rare disease. A 65-year-old female patient with chronic hepatitis B presented with multiple solid masses in segment (S) 4, S5, and S6 of the liver. The nodule in S5 was diagnosed preoperatively as hepatocellular carcinoma by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography. The nodule in S4 was initially interpreted as lymphoid follicles by needle biopsy. Segmentectomy of S5 and partial resection of S6 were performed. Microscopic examination of the S5 nodule revealed moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. The nodule from S6 showed nodular proliferation of atypical intermediate to medium-sized lymphoid cells in the portal area and lymph epithelial lesions of bile ducts. The atypical lymphoid cells were positive for LCA, L-26 and bcl-2 and negative for UCHL-1. These features were consistent with the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma. This is the first case report of synchronous hepatic MALT lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic hepatitis B.

Primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: case report and review of the literature

A 31-yr-old man presented with a 1-wk history of fever, chills, weakness, headaches, and a significant 20-lb weight loss over the preceding 2 months. His past medical history was relevant for liver amebiasis during childhood. Two days before admission, the patient noticed jaundice. He denied abdominal pain or other GI symptoms, and there was no history of alcohol intake, medications, or illicit drugs. His physical examination revealed generalized jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and bilateral leg edema. Neurologically, the patient was agitated, with periods of disorientation, and he had bilateral flapping. His blood tests revealed pancytopenia, renal failure, liver failure, and coagulopathy. Because the patient had a fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia, a further workup also included a bone marrow and liver biopsy. No conclusive diagnosis could be made from the above tests, and the patient died 5 days after admission. Postmortem evaluation, including flow cytometry and gene rearrangement in the tissue obtained from the liver, revealed large B cell lymphoma. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Current information regarding this entity is scant, mainly owing to its rarity. We present a review of the literature, including the incidence, presentation, treatment, and prognosis of primary hepatic lymphoma.

Nongastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

A retrospective survey of patients with pathologically reviewed extragastric mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue (MALT) lymphomas from 20 institutions was performed. A total of 180 patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of extragastric MALT lymphomas were studied. Their median age was 59 years (range, 21-92 years). Ann Arbor stage I disease was present in 115 patients (64%) and stage II disease in 16 (9%). Most cases were in the low or low-intermediate risk groups according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI). Forty-one (23%) patients had involvement of more than one extranodal site at diagnosis and in 24 cases (13%) the lymphoma presented at multiple mucosal sites (9 of them with only mucosal involvement, without bone marrow or nodal disease). Lymph node involvement was present in 21%. Patients were treated with a variety of therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapy in 78 cases. The median overall survival (OS) was not reached; the 5-year OS rate was 90% (95% CI, 82%-94%), the 5-year cause-specific survival (CSS) was 94% (95% CI, 87%-97%), and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 60% (95% CI, 50%-70%). Multivariate analysis showed that Ann Arbor stage was significantly associated with longer OS, nodal involvement with longer CSS, and favorable IPI score with better PFS. At a median follow-up of 3.4 years, 48 patients (27%; 95% CI, 20%-34%) had a relapse, 6 (3%; 95% CI, 1%-7%) showed histologic transformation, and 18 (10%; 95% CI, 6%-15%) experienced the development of a second tumor. Our data confirm the indolent nature of nongastric MALT lymphomas and the high rate of patients presenting with disseminated disease, which, when limited to mucosal sites, was not associated with a poorer outcome.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma arising in the liver

We report 3 cases of primary hepatic peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). All patients were men, 50 to 57 years of age, who sought care because of systemic symptoms including fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly in 2 patients, associated with jaundice in 1. Two patients had abnormal serum liver enzyme levels and coagulation profiles. Imaging studies demonstrated marked hepatomegaly without focal lesions in 1 patient and multiple discrete tumor masses in 2 patients. Tumor infiltrates in biopsy specimens were heterogeneous with a large cell component in 2 cases. An inflammatory background was present in all cases, complicating the histologic recognition of PTCL Immunohistochemical studies showed that all tumors were of T-cell lineage, and 2 cases had monoclonal T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangements. One patient died of disease shortly after diagnosis, and 2 patients treated with multiagent chemotherapy are in clinical remission with 12 and 84 months of clinicalfollow-up, respectively. PTCL may rarely arise in the liver. These neoplasms respond to chemotherapy, suggesting that this disease is curable if diagnosed at an early stage.

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type of the liver in a patient with hepatitis C virus infection

We report a case of primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type of the liver presenting as a solitary mass in a patient with hepatitis C virus infection. A 73-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of a solitary mass in the liver, which was identified by ultrasonography during a routine follow-up study for his hepatitis C virus carrier status. A fine-needle biopsy was performed and the mass was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A detailed investigation showed no evidence of lymphoma in other sites. Left lateral segmentectomy was performed. Histologic examination showed diffuse, monotonous infiltration of centrocyte-like cells that are CD 19(+), CD 20(+), sIgM-lambda(+), CD 3(-), CD 5(-), CD 10(-). The patient received no adjuvant chemotherapy and is alive and disease free 34 months after surgery.

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the dura mimicking the presentation of an acute subdural hematoma. Case report and review of the literature

The authors present the case of a 64-year-old woman who experienced a left hemiparesis. An initial diagnosis of subdural hematoma was made based on results of computerized tomography scanning. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging indicated an extraaxial meningioma. Histological findings confirmed an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). The authors outline the natural history of central nervous system lymphomas and of MALT lymphomas in other tissues. They review seven previously reported cases and emphasize the importance of recognizing these tumors as a distinct clinicopathological entity.

Primary hepatic low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type: a case report and review of the literature

Primary hepatic lymphoma, mostly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is a rare disease. We describe an extremely rare case of low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type occurring in the liver. A 61-year-old man with a history of hepatitis A presented with early gastric cancer and a liver mass. Needle biopsy of the liver tumor suggested low-grade B-cell lymphoma by histology and polymerase chain reaction of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. The tumor (3.4 x 2.8 x 2.4 cm) was completely resected from the anterior segment of the right lobe of the liver. Atypical lymphoid cells of small to intermediate size proliferated in the tumor, and lymphoepithelial lesions were recognized. Immunohistochemically, lymphoma cells were positive for CD20 and negative for CD5, CD10, and cyclin D1. Staging procedures showed no lymphoma lesion other than the liver tumor. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with low-grade hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the MALT type. The patient has been followed up for 1.5 years since surgical resection with no recurrence. The clinicopathologic characteristics and management of this rare disease are discussed.

Primary hepatic lymphoma: favorable outcome after combination chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Primary hepatic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PHL) is a rare and difficult to diagnose lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. It is believed that the prognosis in affected patients is dismal, consisting of early recurrence and short survival.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort review of patients with PHL diagnosed between 1974 and 1995 at a university cancer center was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients with PHL were identified. Typically, the disease occurred in middle-aged men (median age, 50 years). The primary presenting complaint was right upper quadrant abdominal pain, with hepatomegaly found at physical examination. Serum liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, and beta-2-microglobulin levels all were elevated, but alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were within normal range. Hypercalcemia was found in 6 of 15 patients who were tested. Six of 10 patients who were tested were positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Liver scans demonstrated either a solitary lesion or multiple lesions. Pathologic examination revealed diffuse large cell lymphoma in 23 patients (96%). Combination chemotherapy was the mainstay of treatment; surgery consisted of diagnostic biopsy. The complete remission rate was 83.3%, and the 5-year cause specific and failure free survival rates were 87.1% and 70.1%, respectively. HCV infection did not appear to influence the outcome of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of patients with PHL who are treated with combination chemotherapy may be more favorable than that reported elsewhere. The frequent association of PHL with HCV infection observed in this series warrants further investigation.

Primary hepatic lymphoma: favorable outcome after combination chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Primary hepatic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PHL) is a rare and difficult to diagnose lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. It is believed that the prognosis in affected patients is dismal, consisting of early recurrence and short survival.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort review of patients with PHL diagnosed between 1974 and 1995 at a university cancer center was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients with PHL were identified. Typically, the disease occurred in middle-aged men (median age, 50 years). The primary presenting complaint was right upper quadrant abdominal pain, with hepatomegaly found at physical examination. Serum liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, and beta-2-microglobulin levels all were elevated, but alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were within normal range. Hypercalcemia was found in 6 of 15 patients who were tested. Six of 10 patients who were tested were positive for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Liver scans demonstrated either a solitary lesion or multiple lesions. Pathologic examination revealed diffuse large cell lymphoma in 23 patients (96%). Combination chemotherapy was the mainstay of treatment; surgery consisted of diagnostic biopsy. The complete remission rate was 83.3%, and the 5-year cause specific and failure free survival rates were 87.1% and 70.1%, respectively. HCV infection did not appear to influence the outcome of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of patients with PHL who are treated with combination chemotherapy may be more favorable than that reported elsewhere. The frequent association of PHL with HCV infection observed in this series warrants further investigation.

Mesenchymal tumors of the liver

Primary angiosarcoma of the liver accounts for up to 2% of all primary liver tumors and is the second most common primary malignant neoplasm of the liver. Approximately 10 to 20 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States and the prevalence varies from 0.14 to 0.25 per million. In an autopsy series from Chicago, one hepatic angiosarcoma was noted for every 30 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma.

MALT Lymphomas

This review addresses the biology and the treatment of lymphomas arising from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). This entity, first described in 1983, represents about 8% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and was recently re-classified as "extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of MALT-type." The term marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) encompasses the three closely related lymphoma subtypes of nodal, primary splenic and extranodal lymphomas of MALT type: the latter represent the vast majority of MZL. These lymphomas arise at different anatomic sites, are composed of mature B-cells lacking expression of CD5 and CD10, often present with overlapping morphologic features, but typically quite distinct clinical behaviors. Only very recently cytogenetic/molecular genetic observations have underlined the distinctiveness of these three lymphoid neoplasms, which in both the R.E.A.L. and WHO-classifications are included in the general term of MZL. MALT lymphomas arise in numerous extranodal sites, but gastric MALT lymphoma is the most common and best studied and is, therefore, the paradigm for the group as a whole. Dr. Isaacson describes the principal histological features of these lymphomas, including criteria to distinguish this entity from other small B-cell lymphomas. Several lines of evidence suggest that gastric lymphoma arises from MALT acquired as the result of aH. pyloriinfection. However, at least 1/3 of cases do not respond to eradication ofH. pylori. Very recent data suggest that both t(11;18) (q21;q21) and bcl10 nuclear expression are associated with failure to respond to this treatment. Dr. Gascoyne discusses the biologic function of proteins deregulated through the different translocations, which play a role in pathogenesis of MALT lymphomas, emphasizing particularly their influence in disrupting the apoptotic pathway. Dr. Zucca reviews findings suggesting that MALT lymphoma is an antigen driven neoplasm. He also presents specific guidelines for treatment of gastric lymphomas trying to shed some light on the amazingly inconsistent and confusing data in the literature. Taking advantage on the more than 300 non-gastric MALT lymphomas collected by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (ILESG), Dr. Cavalli compares gastric lymphomas with those arising in many other sites. Overall, the data presented in this session will underline the fact, that MALT lymphomas are characterized by some unique biological properties.

Primary hepatic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of T-cell phenotype in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a report of an autopsy case and review of the literature

Anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCL) were first described by Stein et al. in 1985 as large-cell neoplasms with a pleomorphic appearance, subtotal effacement of the lymph node structure, and expression of the lymphoid activation antigen CD-30 (Ki-l). Since their first description, these tumors have been documented in a variety of extranodal sites. We report a primary hepatic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in a patient with advanced AIDS, who presented with hepatic failure and multiple nodules in the liver. A complete autopsy showed discrete tumor nodules throughout the entire liver without gross or microscopic involvement of lymph nodes or any other organs by the neoplastic process. The tumor cells showed typical histological and immunohistochemical features of ALCL and were strongly immunoreactive with the T-cell markers CD-3 and UCHL-1. Only one previous case of primary hepatic ALCL has been reported in the literature, and this tumor occurred in an immunocompetent patient and was not immunoreactive for B- or T-cell markers. To our knowledge, this study represents the first reported case of primary hepatic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of T-cell phenotype. Additionally, this is the first case of primary hepatic ALCL reported in an AIDS patient.

Primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary lymphoma of the liver is rare. Recently, marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type have been described in the liver. Most of these cases occurred without known underlying liver disease, while others were seen in patients with chronic hepatitis. A case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis was reported recently. Some authors have proposed that chronic persistent immunogenic stimulation causes development of acquired MALT and subsequently MALT lymphoma, based on the observation of MALT lymphoma in association with infectious agents, such as Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis C virus, and autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto thyroiditis and Sjögren syndrome. Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive, cholestatic liver disease characterized by destruction of intrahepatic small to medium-sized bile ducts; this disease is mediated by a cytotoxic T-cell reaction. The prolonged immune activation in primary biliary cirrhosis may play a role in the lymphomagenesis of hepatic MALT lymphoma. We describe another case of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma, which was found incidentally in a patient with end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis. This case further supports the role of immunogenic stimulation in the pathogenesis of this particular low-grade B-cell lymphoma.