Pulmonary Intravascular B-Cell Lymphoma with Angiotropism/Angioinvasion Mimicking Interstitial Lung Disease: A Clinical Dilemma and Potential Diagnostic Challenge

Intravascular Large B-cell Lymphoma Presenting as Pulmonary Ground-glass Nodules That Progressed Slowly over Several Months with No Overt Symptoms

A 74-year-old man with no overt symptoms was referred for a chest computed tomography (CT) that revealed multiple bilaterally pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) with subtle changes in size over eight months. Surgical lung biopsies were performed in the left upper lobe. A pathologic study confirmed the intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL). This lesion was a nodule-like cluster of atypical cells, meaning that it had been localized for several months. Pulmonary IVLBCL may form focal lesions presenting as GGN on chest CT and progress slowly without apparent symptoms.

Primary pulmonary intravascular large B‑cell lymphoma misdiagnosed as pneumonia: Four case reports and a literature review

Primary pulmonary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare, malignant extranodal lymphoma. It is difficult to diagnose clinically as it requires a combination of clinical and computed tomography (CT) evaluations, as well as laboratory and pathological examinations. In the present study, 4 cases of primary pulmonary IVLBCL were reviewed. The patients' ages ranged from 60 to 69 years old. Of the 4 patients, 3 developed progressive dyspnea on exertion and intermittent fever. Other symptoms included coughing, chest tightness and weight loss. Laboratory data indicated that all patients had anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoxemia, a markedly high serum lactate dehydrogenase level, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased C-reactive protein. CT demonstrated increased attenuation in bilateral lung parenchyma, especially in the upper lobes, with multiple ground-glass opacities associated with small nodules in these patients. Initially, all 4 patients were misdiagnosed with pneumonia. However, none of them responded to anti-inflammatory treatments. The pathologies of all patients were confirmed using lung biopsy. Only 1 patient received regular combination chemotherapy. Based on the observations of the present study, a standard regimen for lymphoma treatment may result in a notable clinical response.

Pulmonary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma accompanying synchronous primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma and benign interstitial lesions

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma, and initial or predominant presentation in the lungs is uncommon. The synchronous occurrence of IVLBCL and malignant tumors is less frequent, and no such reports have described pulmonary presentations. We report a rare case of pulmonary IVLBCL accompanying lung cancer and interstitial lesions. A 73-year-old man with a history of pneumonia underwent a follow-up examination. Computed tomography revealed diffuse, bilateral ground-glass opacities (GGO) with a partial solid mass. Histologically, the mass consisted of adenocarcinoma. However, two other types of interstitial lesions were scattered throughout the resected lung: 1) peribronchovascular thickening with the aggregation of macrophages and anthracosis, and 2) alveolar septal thickening in the centrilobular area with atypical CD20-positive large cells in the capillaries. These two types of lesions were not mixed. Computed tomography and positron emission tomography demonstrated no other organ involvement. The patient was considered to have the synchronous occurrence of pulmonary IVLBCL and lung cancer (adenocarcinoma). After R-CHOP therapy, GGO on CT disappeared. Lung cancer often accompanies benign background lesions, and the combination of these lesions with lung cancer may make it difficult to detect the presence of pulmonary IVLBCL. However, the histological distribution pattern of IVLBCL may be a clue to the correct diagnosis.