A case of intravascular large B cell lymphoma presenting as nodular goiter

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma with isolated bone marrow involvement

Introduction. Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma is a rare variant of large B-cell, highly invasive extranodal tumors of the lymphatic system. The pathogenesis of the disease lies in the ability of tumor cells to penetrate into small vessels and capillaries of various organs. The clinical presentation is atypical for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In the relevant literature, information on the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology is extremely rare, therefore each publication makes a significant contribution to expanding the horizons of hematologists and morphologists.

Aim – to present a case of diagnosing intravascular B-cell lymphoma.

Main findings. A clinical case of a 78-year-old patient who fell ill acutely is presented. At the onset of the disease, febrile fever was noted. In the general blood test: hemoglobin – 104 g/L; erythrocytes – 3.0 × 1012/L; ESR – 24 mm/h; platelets – 112 × 109/L, leukocytes – 4.9 × 109/L, 4 % of cells with lymphoblast morphology were found in the leukocyte formula. Blood serum tests revealed: an increase in uric acid concentrations – up to 639 μmol/L, LDH – up to 1885 U/L, beta-2-microglobulin – up to 8.9 mmol/L, C-reactive protein – up to 0.6 g/L, a decrease in the concentration of total protein – up to 45 g/L, an increase in the concentration of aspartate aminotransferase – up to 48 units/L at normal concentrations of bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase.

The histological and immunohistochemical picture, according to the study of bone biopsy, most corresponded to bone marrow damage by intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. Immunophenotyping was carried out – 15.7 % of blast cells with immunophenotype CD19+HLA/DR+CD24+CD37+CD20+CD10+IgM+ were detected. Cytogenetic studies revealed no karyotype abnormalities. The result of fluorescence in situ hybridization of the IGH locus (14q32) was normal. Based on the data obtained, the final clinical diagnosis was established: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, stage IVB, intravascular variant with bone marrow involvement, aggressive course. The patient was prescribed the first line of therapy according to the R-CHOP scheme (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone). In the control study of the bone marrow, after the first course of therapy, the number of lymphoid elements was 3.6 %, laboratory parameters returned to normal.

Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma is a rare malignancy characterized by the presence of lymphoma cells within the lumen of blood vessels. The annual incidence of cases is fewer than 0.5 cases per 1,000,000. It usually affects the elderly with an average age of diagnosis around 70 years. Due to the absence of lymphoma cells in the peripheral smear and lymphadenopathy, it is difficult to diagnose these cases. Although the central nervous system and skin are the commonly involved organs, they can involve any organ system. Prompt diagnosis and initiation of treatment are very crucial as it carries a high mortality. We describe two patients who presented with constitutional symptoms and fever of unknown origin, later diagnosed as intravascular large B- cell lymphoma. The diagnosis was difficult in both cases as the presenting symptoms were atypical. One of the patients was diagnosed at autopsy. The delay in diagnosis often leads to fatal outcomes as the disease is very aggressive. A high degree of clinical suspicion is the key to prompt diagnosis and improved outcomes.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: The Great Imitator

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with an estimated incidence of less than one per million. Unlike other hematopoietic malignancies, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly are uncommon, and patients typically present with nonspecific symptoms. IVLBCL presents a diagnostic challenge and patients are usually diagnosed late in the disease course, if at all, and the prognosis is poor. The differential diagnosis is broad, and physicians often pursue multiple diagnostic possibilities during patient workup. We present a case of IVLBCL discovered at autopsy in an 80-year-old male who presented with history and symptoms pointing to the tick-borne illness ehrlichiosis.

Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma Within a Thyroid Nodule: A Diagnostic Pitfall

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, where the neoplastic lymphoid proliferation resides predominantly within the lumens of blood vessels but with no or few circulating neoplastic cells in the peripheral circulation. Focal or subtle involvement in some cases can cause the diagnosis to be misinterpreted or even overlooked, delaying the initiation of appropriate treatment. Our report focuses on a 78-year-old woman with a progressively enlarging thyroid mass, verified by ultrasound. She underwent a hemithyroidectomy, and microscopic evaluation demonstrated nodular thyroid parenchyma with atypical large cells in an intravascular distribution pattern identified on high magnification. Thorough evaluation showed that the large intravascular cells were positive CD20, PAX-5, and Ki-67 by immunoperoxidase staining, which lead to the diagnosis of IVLBCL. This case emphasizes the subtle appearance of IVLBCL, which may be missed on low-power light microscopy, and the need for careful evaluation of thyroid resection specimens.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma with multi-organ failure presenting as a pancreatic mass: a case with atypical presentation and definite diagnosis postmortem

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a very rare extra nodal lymphoma that tends to proliferate within small blood vessels, particularly capillaries and postcapillary venules while sparing the organ parenchyma. The cause of its affinity for the vascular bed remains unknown. Because of its rarity and unremarkable clinical presentation, a timely diagnosis of IVLBCL is very challenging. Here, we describe a case of IVLBCL presenting as pancreatic mass that was ultimately diagnosed at autopsy. A 71-year-old Caucasian female presented with a 3-month history of fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss. She was referred to the emergency room with a new diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis and lactic acidosis. During her hospital course she was found to have a 1.9 × 1.8 cm lesion in the pancreatic tail on imaging; The cytologic specimen on the mass showed a high-grade lymphoma. A bone marrow biopsy showed no involvement. The patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated and she, later, died due to multi-organ failure. An autopsy revealed diffuse intravascular invasion in multiple organs by the lymphoma cells. Based on our literature review—and to the best of our knowledge—there are virtually no reports describing the presentation of this lymphoma with a discernible tissue mass and associated multi-organ failure. The immunophenotypic studies performed revealed de novo CD5+ intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, which is known to be aggressive with very poor prognosis. Although it is a very rare lymphoma, it should be considered as a potential cause of multi-organ failure when no other cause has been identified. A prompt tissue diagnosis, appropriate high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation remain the only viable alternative to achieve some kind of remission.