Intravascular lymphomatosis (malignant angioendotheliomatosis) presenting as pulmonary hypertension

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma with respiratory failure diagnosed by random skin biopsy: A case report

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) typically involves nonspecific symptoms that complicate diagnosis. This report discusses the case of a 70-year-old man, who presented with dyspnea, fatigue, and weight loss that evolved into severe respiratory failure, diagnosed with IVLBCL via random skin biopsy. The initial improvement in respiratory symptoms was followed by coronavirus disease. Response to steroid therapy and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels suggested IVLBCL, confirmed by a random skin biopsy. The combination chemotherapy of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisolone improved the respiratory condition. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with IVLBCL and the crucial role of random skin biopsy.

Occult Diffuse Neoplasm in the Lungs: Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Intrathoracic involvement with lymphomas is common and manifests lymphadenopathy as well as a wide spectrum of imaging abnormalities in the lungs. Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare extranodal subtype of large B-cell lymphoma that typically involves small blood vessels and is difficult to detect.

METHODS

Using a computer-assisted search, we identified patients with histopathologically proven IVLBCL in the lungs at Mayo Clinic from 2001 through 2018. Medical records, imaging studies, and pathologic specimens were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 5 patients were diagnosed with a median age at diagnosis of 68 years (range, 44-73); 4 patients were male. The diagnosis of IVLBCL was achieved by surgical lung biopsy in 3 and at autopsy in 2. At presentation, all 5 patients had dyspnea and systemic symptoms including fever, fatigue, night sweats, and/or weight loss. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) failed to demonstrate the diffuse infiltrative process; positron emission tomography (PET) scan performed in 2 patients did not show fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the lungs. Pulmonary function tests obtained in 3 patients showed reduced diffusing capacity in all; transthoracic echocardiography yielded evidence of pulmonary hypertension in 2 of 4 patients. All 3 patients diagnosed antemortem underwent chemotherapy with 1 patient remaining alive at 4 years after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

IVLBCL is difficult to diagnose given variable and nonspecific clinical presentations. Microvascular disease processes such as IVLBCL should be kept in mind in cases of undiagnosed progressive dyspnea accompanied by systemic symptoms even when imaging studies are unrevealing.

Intravascular B-cell lymphoma: case report of a rare cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare disease characterized by proliferation of malignant lymphoid cells within the small vessels of various organs resulting in diffuse thrombosis. It most commonly affects the central nervous system and the skin, but if it involves the pulmonary arteries it can cause acute severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right heart failure. Early diagnosis is essential as the clinical course is extremely aggressive. In this report, we present a case of rapidly progressive PH and subsequent right ventricular (RV) failure secondary to IVLBCL. We review the important differential diagnoses and diagnostic evaluation needed to make a correct and early diagnosis.

Case summary 

A 53-year-old, previously healthy man developed 2 months of progressive shortness of breath. After being treated for presumptive pneumonia, he was admitted with hypoxic respiratory failure, altered mental status, and severe PH. He developed RV failure and subsequent liver failure. He was ruled out for pulmonary embolism. Despite aggressive management with inhaled nitric oxide and epoprostenol, inotropes, and continuous renal replacement therapy, the patient passed away. Post-mortem examination revealed the presence of IVLBCL with extensive involvement notable of the brain, heart, lungs, and pulmonary arteries.

Discussion

The acute development of severe PH and RV failure in the absence of pulmonary emboli is uncommon and represents a challenging diagnostic and management clinical scenario. When accompanied by altered mental status, constitutional symptoms and an elevated lactate dehydrogenase, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for intravascular lymphoma, as early diagnosis is critical to maintain a reasonable chance of survival.

Pulmonary Hypertension and Cancer: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management

OPINION STATEMENT

Pulmonary hypertension is caused by cancer and its therapeutic agents including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and even the targeted therapies. Ironically, some of the cancer therapies that cause one type of pulmonary hypertension (PH) could potentially be employed in the treatment of another PH type. Greater awareness on the role of cancer therapeutic agents in causing PH is required. Conversely, since PH is mostly incurable, the potential role of some of these cancer therapeutic agents in the cure of PH should be recognized. In short, the relationship between cancer, cancer therapy, and PH is an interesting one requiring further attention, education, and research.

The Value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Diagnostic Procedure of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma Presenting Fever of Unknown Origin and Pulmonary Hypertension as an Initial Manifestation

A 57-year-old man presented with fever of unknown origin and pulmonary hypertension. An F-FDG PET/CT scan was performed to evaluate the source of fever, which showed diffuse, homogeneously increased FDG uptake in both lungs, which prompted the transbronchial lung biopsy. The pathological examination from biopsy specimen demonstrated intravascular large B-cell lymphoma.

Intravascular Lymphoma Clinically Mimicking Pulmonary Thromboembolic Disease

A 62-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of fatigue and easy bruising. During hospitalization he developed progressive dyspnea, which, on the basis of abormal findings from a ventilation-perfusion scan, was attributed to multiple small pulmonary emboli. Postmortem examination demonstrated intravascular lymphoma prominently involving the pulmonary interstitium and vasculature. This case is unsual in its clinical presentation as pulmonary thromboembolic disease.

Intravascular Large B Cell Lymphoma as a Rare Cause of Reversed Halo Sign: A Case Report

Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal diffused large B-cell lymphoma. IVLBCL with primary lung lesion is very rare and it is very difficult to diagnose. Radiographic findings of pulmonary IVLBCL are nonspecific and resembling interstitial lung diseases. Reversed halo sign (RHS) was initially reported in patients diagnosed with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and then described in a variety of diseases with inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune, and malignant causes. This is the first case of IVLBCL that has presented with RHSs on CT scan.A 59-year-old Chinese man presented with a 4-month history of a nonproductive cough and a weight loss of 5 kg. Physical examination was unremarkable. High-resolution computed tomography scan of the chest showed bilateral patchy ground glass opacities (GGOs) and RHSs. Laboratory tests were unremarkable except elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Surgical lung biopsy was performed. Light microscopic examination of the specimen disclosed diffuse alveolar septal widening caused by neoplastic lymphocytes, which were positive for CD20 and infiltrated in the alveolar capillaries. The patient was diagnosed with IVLBCL and underwent chemotherapy and autologous blood stem cell transplantation. The patient is still alive 5 years after diagnosis.IVLBCL is a rare cause of RHS and should be considered in differential diagnosis of RHS. An increased serum LDH concentration is another important clue.

FDG-PET/CT is a pivotal imaging modality to diagnose rare intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: case report and review of literature

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) remains a diagnostic challenge, because of non-specific findings on clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies. We present a case in which 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography was particularly useful to suspect the diagnosis, to detect unexpected locations, to guide contributive biopsy, and to assess the response to treatment. In case of initial negative results, FDG-PET should be repeated in the course of clinical evolution. In the presence of neurological or hormonal symptoms without brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormality, FDG-PET brain slices could depict additional pituitary and/or brain hypermetabolisms. We discuss the potential interests of FDG-PET in IVLBCL by a literature review.

An elderly lady with Fever of unknown etiology and severe pulmonary hypertension: intravascular lymphoma-an elusive diagnosis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with malignancy, especially adenocarcinoma, is a well-known entity and is included in group V of the WHO classification. Intravascular lymphoma is a rare type of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, characterized by selective intravascular growth of malignant lymphocytes, aggressive behavior, and often a fatal course. Most of the time, diagnosis is postmortem due to the rarity and the protean manifestations of the disease. We present a rare case of an elderly patient presenting with severe pulmonary hypertension, fever of unknown etiology (FUO), and lymphadenopathy. Extensive evaluation searching for the etiology of her FUO and PH was noncontributory. The diagnosis of intravascular lymphoma was finally reached by the performance of a random abdominal fat pad biopsy and the patient was started on immunochemotherapy. She continues the follow up after 6 cycles of R-CHOP with no further febrile episodes and steady improvement in exercise tolerance.

Massive splenomegaly and lymphopenia: a unique case of obstructive shock

We present a patient with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL)-induced obstructive shock. This case represents a unique presentation of the disease, while highlighting the difficulty of establishing the diagnosis. Although there was a high clinical suspicion for a lymphomatous process, the obstructive shock component of the patient's presentation was perplexing. It was not until the autopsy reports demonstrated lymphocytes within the pulmonary vasculature that the clinical picture of altered mental status, weight loss and obstructive shock were unified to the diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma with diffuse FDG uptake in the lung by 18FDG-PET/CT without chest CT findings

We report a rare case of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) with diffuse fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the lung by ¹⁸FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). CT showed nodular shadow, whereas diffuse FDG uptake in PET/CT suggested IVLBCL in the lung. A random skin biopsy provided histological evidence of IVLBCL. The patient responded well to combination chemotherapy. Only two cases of IVLBCL in which diffuse pulmonary FDG uptake was demonstrated have been reported previously. FDG-PET/CT plus random skin biopsy may be useful for the early diagnosis of IVLBCL with pulmonary involvement even without convincing radiological findings in the lung.

Pulmonary intravascular lymphoma diagnosed by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-guided transbronchial lung biopsy in a man with long-term survival: a case report

INTRODUCTION

18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography can detect the pulmonary involvement of intravascular lymphoma that presents no abnormality in a computed tomography scan.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 61-year-old Japanese man who had pulmonary intravascular lymphoma and no computed tomography abnormality. We were able to make an antemortem diagnosis of pulmonary intravascular lymphoma by transbronchial lung biopsy according to 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings. He is free of recurrent disease 24 months after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a long-term survivor of pulmonary intravascular lymphoma diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy under the guide of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Pulmonary T-cell lymphoma with pulmonary arterial hypertension

We report on a 73-year-old man with systemic lymphadenopathy and chest computed tomography (CT) findings of bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening. He also had pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Several lymph node biopsies were attempted, without a definitive diagnosis. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed, and the specimen was diagnosed as peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). Lymphoma cells had invaded lung vessels, resulting in PAH. We should include pulmonary lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of patients with PAH and chest CT findings of diffuse ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma presenting pulmonary arterial hypertension as an initial manifestation

We report a 39-year-old man with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) who had been treated as a case with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) for one year. After he became worse, diffuse pulmonary (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) suggested the existence of IVLBCL in the lung showing normal CT images. The diagnosis was confirmed with random transbronchial lung biopsy, and he was then successfully treated. Since IVLBCL presenting PAH has been rare and is difficult to diagnose, early application of FDG-PET may provide early recognition of the disorder, leading to a better outcome.

A case of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) with no abnormal findings on chest computed tomography diagnosed by random transbronchial lung biopsy

A 58-year-old woman was admitted with refractory fever despite receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. She had hypoxemia, severe anemia, elevated levels of serum lactic dehydrogenase and soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and a positive direct Coombs test, which suggested an underlying autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Chest computed tomography (CT) showed no abnormal findings, but she had hypoxia, and her alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (A-aDO2) was increased. A random transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) was performed, and pathological analysis showed massive proliferation of tumor cells in the lumina of the small vessels. Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) was diagnosed, and her general status improved after chemotherapy.

Intravascular lymphoma presenting as a specific pulmonary embolism and acute respiratory failure: a case report

Introduction

The occurrence of an intravascular lymphoma with severe pulmonary involvement mimicking pulmonary embolism is described.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old man was referred to our intensive care unit with acute respiratory failure and long lasting fever. Appropriate investigations failed to demonstrate any bacterial, viral, parasitic or mycobacterial infection. A chest computed tomography scan ruled out any proximal or sub-segmental pulmonary embolism but the ventilation/perfusion lung scan concluded that there was a high probability of pulmonary embolism. The cutaneous biopsy pathology diagnosed intravascular lymphoma.

Conclusion

Intravascular lymphoma is a rare disease characterized by exclusive or predominant growth of neoplastic cells within the lumina of small blood vessels. Lung involvement seems to be common, but predominant lung presentation of this disease is rare. In our patient, urgent chemotherapy, along with adequate supportive care allowed complete recovery.

Intravascular lymphoma: a neoplasm of 'homeless' lymphocytes?

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is an extremely rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by almost exclusive growth of neoplastic lymphocytes within blood vessel lumen. IVL is morphologically characterized in most instances by large cells with B-cell lineage. IVL is an aggressive and usually disseminated disease that predominantly affects elderly patients, resulting in poor PS, B-symptoms, anemia, and high lactate dehydrogenase serum level. The brain and skin are the most commonly involved sites; nodal disease is rare. Survival after conventional chemotherapy is disappointing, with a relevant impact of diagnostic delay and lethal complications. Notwithstanding these results, IVL limited to the skin (cutaneous variant) is a favorable presentation with distinctive clinical characteristics. Moreover, differences in clinical presentation with Eastern Countries IVL cases, mostly associated with hemophagocytic syndrome, do exist. Intensive combinations containing drugs with higher central nervous system bioavailability are needed in cases with brain involvement; the role of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation should be investigated in younger patients with unfavorable features. The present review will discuss the most recent acquisitions related either to diagnosis and immunophenotypic/biologic characteristics as well as clinical/therapeutic issues of IVL.

Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension as initial manifestation of intravascular lymphoma: case report

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is a rare and usually fatal disease that belongs to the class of high-grade malignant lymphomas and which is characterized by proliferation of neoplastic lymphoid cells exclusively within the lumina of small blood vessels. Its polymorphic and nonspecific clinical manifestations make antemortem diagnosis very difficult. We report herein a case of IVL revealed by fatal, precapillary, pulmonary arterial hypertension and associated with long-lasting fever. Extensive investigation of the usual causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension was negative. The diagnosis of intravascular lymphoma was made on postmortem analysis, revealing diffuse and sometimes complete obliterations of the lumina of small blood vessels by large B-cell lymphoma, including pulmonary capillaries. Thus, we propose that IVL must be added to the spectrum of etiologies of subacute pulmonary arterial hypertension, notably in the context of associated fever, both entities requiring emergency diagnosis. For this purpose, blood collected via pulmonary capillary-wedge aspiration for cytologic examination may be associated with right-sided heart catheterization when this latter procedure is suitable.

Malignant and benign lymphoid lesions of the lung

Lymphoid lesions of the lung produce a complex of problems for the practicing pathologist. Although these lesions are eventually referred to hematopathologists, it is still the general surgical pathologist who first encounters them and confronts the problem of formulating an initial diagnosis. Over the last 20 years there has been a revolution in our knowledge of the classification and natural history of the pulmonary lesions, a plethora of information which warrants a thorough review. The purpose of this discussion is to report the clinical features and courses, pathologic features and, when known, etiologies or pathogenesis of the major "primary" pulmonary lymphoid lesions and present a brief approach to differential diagnosis. I will divide the lesions into malignant and benign, discussing each in turn.

Intravascular lymphoma: clinical presentation, natural history, management and prognostic factors in a series of 38 cases, with special emphasis on the ‘cutaneous variant’1

Despite its recognition as a distinct, extremely rare entity, no large studies of intravascular lymphoma (IVL) have been reported. The clinico-pathological characteristics of 38 human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients with IVL diagnosed in Western countries were reviewed to better delineate clinical presentation, clinical variants, natural history and optimal therapy. The IVL is an aggressive and usually disseminated disease (Ann Arbor stage IV in 68% of cases) that predominantly affects elderly patients (median age 70 years, range: 34-90; male:female ratio 0.9), resulting in poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS >1 in 61%), B symptoms (55%), anaemia (63%) and high serum lactate dehydrogenase level (86%). The brain and skin are the most common sites of disease. In contrast to previous reports, hepatosplenic involvement (26%) and bone marrow infiltration (32%) were found to be common features in IVL, while nodal disease was confirmed as rare (11% of cases). Patients with disease limited to the skin ('cutaneous variant'; 26% of cases) were invariably females with a normal platelet count, and exhibited a significantly better outcome than the remaining patients, which deserves further investigation. Overall survival was usually poor; however, the early use of intensive therapies could improve outcome in young patients with unfavourable features. ECOG-PS >1, 'cutaneous variant', stage I and chemotherapy use were independently associated with improved survival.

High-resolution CT and CT angiography of peripheral pulmonary vascular disorders

Peripheral pulmonary vascular disorders that can be evaluated with computed tomography (CT) include various disease entities with overlapping imaging features and a wide range of clinical manifestations. The overall accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary vascular disorders increases with improved spatial resolution, administration of a high-flow contrast material bolus, and the use of cardiac gating. The integration of high-resolution CT and CT angiographic techniques into one scanning protocol has important clinical implications for multisection CT and makes it the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of this complex group of disorders.

Intravascular lymphomatosis of the lung and liver following eyelid lymphoma in a Chinese man and review of primary pulmonary intravascular lymphomatosis

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is characterised by an almost exclusive intravascular proliferation of malignant lymphoid cells, with the diagnosis often made only when the illness is in its terminal phase or at autopsy. We detail a case of IVL affecting the lung and liver of a 49-year-old Chinese man presenting primarily with lung symptoms and incidental findings of abnormal serum transaminase levels, the ante-mortem diagnosis being established on transbronchial lung biopsy and percutaneous liver biopsy specimens, respectively. Histology disclosed CD20 + CD5 - CD10 [corrected] - malignant large mononuclear B cells within the lumina of the blood vessels of the affected organs as well as sinusoids of the liver. Significantly, the patient had a history of large B cell lymphoma affecting the eyelid 18 months prior to the angiotropic disease, suggesting a possible link between the more common types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and IVL. A brief review of all cases of primary pulmonary intravascular lymphomatosis is also presented.

Pulmonary intravascular lymphomatosis: presentation with dyspnea and air trapping

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is a rare lymphoid neoplasm that is typically of B-cell lineage and characterized by proliferation of malignant cells within small arterioles, capillaries, and venules. We report a patient with pulmonary IVL who presented clinically with progressive dyspnea, fever, and a dry cough. Pulmonary function tests revealed a marked decrease in diffusion capacity with airflow obstruction and severe air trapping. High-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest with inspiratory and expiratory images revealed mosaic attenuation consistent with air trapping. Transbronchial biopsies revealed the diagnosis of IVL with capillary expansion in the alveolar and peribronchiolar interstitial tissue. IVL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with an interstitial lung disease, air trapping on pulmonary function tests, and mosaic attenuation on HRCT. Transbronchial biopsies may be the initial diagnostic procedure of choice.

Intravascular lymphomatosis presenting as adult respiratory distress syndrome

An unusual case of intravascular lymphomatosis caused by small noncleaved, non-Burkitt's lymphoma, which presented with adult respiratory distress syndrome, is described. Extensive invasion of the small- and medium-size blood vessels of the lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, bladder, and brain-but not the bone marrow or peripheral blood-is documented. The possible mechanism and the unusual features of this case are discussed in comparison with previously reported cases. The pertinent literature is reviewed. The problem of diagnosing this pathological entity is emphasized.

Four varied cases of intravascular lymphomatosis and a literature review

BACKGROUND

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is an uncommon malignancy defined pathologically by neoplastic proliferation of lymphoid cells within the lumens of capillaries, small veins, and arteries, with little or no adjacent parenchymal involvement. The nature of IVL has been the subject of considerable controversy. Recent immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated clearly that the tumors bear the immunophenotype of neoplastic lymphoid cells of either B-cell or T-cell lineage. IVL commonly affects the central nervous system, resulting in progressive dementia and multiple neurologic deficits; skin is the second most common site of involvement, in the form of cutaneous plaques and nodules.

METHODS

In a retrospective review of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma seen at our institution, four cases of IVL were identified. Case 1 was fixed in methacarin, and Cases 2-4 were fixed in 10% formalin. Standard fixation, tissue processing, sectioning, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used. Immunophenotypic studies were performed using a modified avidin-biotin complex technique. The specimen in Case 1 was stained by Giemsa stain using standard techniques.

RESULTS

Four cases of IVL are presented. One patient experienced hypoxemia and fevers of unknown origin; the second, dementia and a vasculitislike illness; the third rapidly progressive dementia, nonlocalizing neurologic deficits, and panhypopituitarism; the fourth Kaposi-like skin lesions. Case 1 relapsed shortly after completing chemotherapy. Salvage chemotherapy has yielded good initial response. Autopsy findings in cases 2, 3 and 4 confirmed IVL in many vessels, including the brain, lung, liver, heart, gastrointestinal tract, glomerulus, central nervous system, and skin. Malignant lymphoid cells marked as B-cells in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Unusual and interesting clinical presentations may occur in patients with IVL. The medical literature indicates that few cases are diagnosed ante mortem. Although isolated patients may respond favorably to chemotherapy, most will deteriorate rapidly and the diagnosis of IVL not contemplated until necropsy.