Histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen associated with hypoalbuminemia, hypo gamma-globulinemia and thrombocytopenia as a possibly unique clinical entity--report of three cases

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the spleen: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is an uncommon sarcoma and its presence in the spleen is even rarer, with only a handful of cases reported in English literature. It is typically only diagnosed following histological analysis. Its rarity also means that there is little consensus over ideal management.

CASE PRESENTATION

This report presents a case of a 40-year-old Caucasian male who was found to have a splenic mass after presenting with non-specific abdominal pain and generalized malaise. Numerous imaging modalities were used which demonstrated a large partially solid and partially cystic lesion in spleen with no evidence of metastasis. As core biopsies were undiagnostic, he was planned for a diagnostic and therapeutic splenectomy. However, despite magnetic resonance imaging 11 days prior to his operation showed no evidence of liver metastasis, a massive splenic tumour with hepatic metastases was identified intraoperatively. An open splenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and liver metastasectomy was hence carried out. Histological analysis confirmed liver metastasis secondary to a splenic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. The patient recovered well and was discharged home. He presented again three weeks after his operation with lower back pain, abdominal pain and fever. Computed tomography demonstrated extensive recurrent disease burden in the peritoneum and liver. The patient passed away a month after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Splenic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is a rare tumour which may pose a significant diagnostic challenge on both clinical and histopathological grounds. Following diagnosis and treatment, its aggressive nature often results in a poor prognosis. Current literature fails to delineate any superior management strategy to increase survival.

Primary splenic histiocytic sarcoma successfully treated with splenectomy: a case report and literature review

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with refractory thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly. She was diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia 3 years prior to admission and received steroid therapy. However, her platelet count started decreasing six months prior to admission. A diagnostic and therapeutic splenectomy was performed, which led to the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma. The patient's platelet count recovered promptly after splenectomy, and she was in complete remission for over a year.

Thrombocytopenia with multiple splenic lesions - histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen without splenomegaly: A case report

BACKGROUND

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) of the spleen is reported to be a rare and lethal disease. The clinicopathological features of splenic HS have not been well described. The objective of this paper is to describe the diagnosis and treatment of a case of this rare disease and provide a review of the literature.

CASE SUMMARY

In this article, we discuss the case of a 40-year-old Hispanic female who presented with progressive thrombocytopenia and multiple hypoechoic lesions in the spleen without splenomegaly. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed increased activity in cervical lymph nodes, as well as multiple bone and splenic lesions with positive uptake. Two bone marrow biopsies and fine-needle aspiration of the cervical lymph node were inconclusive. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed, and gross examination showed a 110.1 g spleen with multiple rubbery, nodular lesions within the subcapsular sinus and splenic parenchyma. The microscopic findings showed multinodular histiocyte proliferation with atypia and multilobulated nuclei, which were positive for CD163, CD4, and CD68 by immunohistochemical analysis. The final pathologic diagnosis was difficult and was found to be low-grade HS of the spleen, after consultations with two renowned hematopathology institutions. At the patient’s five-month follow-up visit, her bone marrow metastasis had progressed. She is waiting to be enrolled in a clinical trial.

CONCLUSION

Pathologic diagnosis of splenic HS can be challenging. Low-grade differentiation may be associated with a slow progressive disease.

Hepatic Involvement of Histiocytic Sarcoma: CT and MRI Findings

Histiocytic sarcoma in the liver is an extremely rare hematological malignancy. Herein, we reported the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with characteristic wedge-shaped abnormality bounded by hepatic veins on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the liver. In the wedge-shaped area, decreased portal flow and the deposition of iron were observed. These imaging findings are consistent with intrasinusoidal tumor cell infiltration. A liver biopsy was performed, and histiocytic sarcoma was confirmed histopathologically.

Histiocytic sarcoma : an updated literature review based on the 2008 WHO classification

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm showing morphologic and immunophenotypic evidence of histiocytic differentiation. The vast majority of previously reported HSs are now generally recognized to be misdiagnosed examples of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, predominantly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The recognition of such tumors parallels the development and widespread use of immunohistochemical techniques, along with the development of molecular genetic methods to detect immunoglobulin (IG) or T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement. The 2001 World Health Organization (WHO) definition of HS requires the absence of clonal B/T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. However, the 2008 WHO classification no longer strictly requires the absence of clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) or TCR gene rearrangement for the diagnosis of HS. Recent studies demonstrated that HSs that occur subsequent to or concurrent with B- or T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia or mature B-cell neoplasms generally show clonal IgH and/or TCR gene rearrangement. These findings suggest the possibility of transdifferentiation of the two otherwise morphologically and immunohistochemically distinctive neoplasms. In addition, a recent study suggested clonal IG gene rearrangements may be detected at a high frequency in sporadic HS, indicating that a large subset of sporadic HSs may inherit the B-lymphocyte genotype. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of HS, although the etiology of HS is still unknown. HS is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is necessary to rule out other diseases that could be misdiagnosed as HS with extensive immunophenotypical analysis before diagnosing HS.

Primary splenic histiocytic sarcoma complicated with prolonged idiopathic thrombocytopenia and secondary bone marrow involvement: a unique surgical case presenting with splenomegaly but non-nodular lesions

Abstract

A 67-year-old Japanese female was followed up due to prolonged idiopathic thrombocytopenia with non-response to steroid therapy for 4 years, but recent progressive pancytopenia, hypo-albuminemia, and hypo-γ-globulinemia were presented. An abdominal CT scan revealed heterogeneously enhanced splenomegaly without any nodular lesions. A splenectomy was performed, and gross examination showed markedly hyperemic red pulp, weighing 760 g, accompanied by multiple foci of peripheral anemic infarction. Surprisingly, microscopic findings exhibited a diffuse proliferation of medium-sized to large tumor cells having pleomorphic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, predominantly within the sinuses and cords of the red pulp, which occasionally displayed conspicuous hemophagocytosis and vascular permeation. In immunohistochemistry, these atypical cells were specifically positive for CD68 (KP-1), CD163, and lysozyme, which was consistent with histiocytic sarcoma (HS) of the spleen. Subsequently, section from the aspiration of bone marrow showed infiltration of the neoplastic cells associated with erythrophagocytosis 2 months after the operation, but never before it. Therefore, primary splenic HS presenting with secondary bone marrow involvement was conclusively diagnosed. Since early diagnosis and treatment are necessary for the HS patients with poor outcomes, splenic HS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases with chronic thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1009474924812827

Paraneoplastic syndrome in haemophagocytic histiocytic sarcoma in a dog

A case of metastatic splenic haemophagocytic histiocytic sarcoma (HHS) in a 6-year-old neutered male flat-coated retriever is described. The main clinical findings were hypoalbuminaemia and regenerative anaemia. The diagnosis was based on histological features and expression of CD11d by the neoplastic cells. Tumour cells were shown to produce interleukin (IL)-6, to phagocytose erythrocytes and to take up albumin, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural examination. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction identified increased IL-6 gene expression in affected organs. These findings suggest that neoplastic cells are responsible for the clinical features of HHS, by removing erythrocytes and albumin from the blood and releasing cytokines, such as IL-6.

Postchemotherapy histiocyte-rich pseudotumor involving the spleen

We report 2 cases of splenic postchemotherapy histiocyte-rich pseudotumor. Each patient had a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, treated with multiagent chemotherapy. Computed tomography scans performed on both patients showed splenic masses. A positron emission tomography scan performed on 1 patient showed increased metabolic activity. The preoperative diagnosis in both patients was recurrent lymphoma, prompting splenectomy. The splenectomy specimens showed multiple, tan-white, firm nodules, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, that were histologically composed of central necrotic B cells (CD20+/CD3-), consistent with necrotic lymphoma, surrounded by numerous lipid-laden (xanthomatous) histiocytes. Clinical staging studies at the time of splenectomy showed no other sites of disease. We conclude that these histologic and immunophenotypic findings represent chemotherapy-induced tumor necrosis with a florid histiocytic reaction mimicking residual viable lymphoma. Others have used descriptive terminology or the term xanthomatous pseudotumor for these lesions that have been only rarely reported in the spleen previously.

Primary histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen associated with hemophagocytosis

We report a patient with primary histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen associated with prominent hemophagocytosis. Although thrombocytopenia, probably due to hemophagocytosis, was refractory to corticosteroid therapy, the transfusion of platelets, and splenic irradiation, partial splenic embolization was effective and facilitated splenectomy for a diagnosis. The majority of the spleen showed necrosis, but viable neoplastic cells with pleomorphic nuclei and abundant cytoplasm, showing occasional erythrocytes or leukocytes, were still discernible. The neoplastic cells expressed CD68, lysozyme, and S-100 protein, and were negative for lymphoid, myeloid, and epithelial cell markers. CD163, a monocyte/macrophage-specific molecule, was positive in only some of them. Despite multiagent chemotherapy, the patient died of the disease, showing a rapidly progressive clinical course. Although the preoperative diagnosis of primary splenic histiocytic sarcoma is difficult, it has been confirmed in patients with splenomegaly of unknown etiology that clinicolaboratory features suggestive of hemophagocytosis may be important clues suggestive to the disease. CD163 expression by neoplastic cells could be confirmed only after careful observation, because the molecule may only be seen in some of the neoplastic cells.

Serum antibodies against human albumin in critically ill and healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the magnitude and duration of the antibody response against human albumin (HA) in critically ill and healthy dogs.

DESIGN

Cohort and cross-sectional study.

ANIMALS

Fourteen critically ill dogs that received 25% HA as part of their treatment protocol, 2 healthy dogs with no known previous exposure to HA that received 2 infusions of 25% HA (positive control dogs), and 47 healthy dogs and 21 critically ill dogs with no known exposure to HA (negative control dogs).

PROCEDURES

An ELISA to detect IgG against HA was developed. Serum samples were obtained from the critically ill dogs prior to infusion of HA, at the time of hospital discharge, and 4 to 6 weeks and 6 months after HA administration. Serum samples were obtained at 2- to 4-week intervals from both positive control dogs for 101 weeks. A single serum sample was obtained from each of the negative control dogs.

RESULTS

All 14 critically ill dogs developed serum IgG against HA. Peak antibody response was detected 4 to 6 weeks after HA administration. In both positive control dogs, IgG against HA was detected 10 days after HA administration and continued past 97 weeks. The peak antibody response was detected at 3 weeks in 1 dog and at 9 weeks in the other. Five of the 68 (7%) negative control dogs had a positive antibody response.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that dogs developed a pronounced IgG response following exposure to HA and that some dogs with no history of HA administration were positive for anti-HA IgG.

Histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen: case report of asymptomatic onset of thrombocytopenia and complex imaging features

Histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen, in which the malignant cells display morphologic and immunophenotypic features similar to those of mature tissue histiocytes, is a rare but potentially lethal condition that can remain asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic for a long period of time. We studied a case of histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen in an 82-year-old woman with prolonged chronic thrombocytopenia that was non-responsive to steroid therapy. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a characteristically enlarged spleen and liver. Palliative irradiation therapy was clinically effective; however, disease progression proved lethal. Autopsy revealed the proliferation of tumor cells within the splenic sinus and the liver sinusoids, which displayed extreme hemophagocytosis and strong expression of the histiocytic markers CD68 (KP1 and PG-M1) and CD163. The postmortem diagnosis showed histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen with liver infiltration. This and previous reports indicate that early detection (facilitated by imaging and clinical features) and management may improve patient prognosis and survival. Histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen should be considered as a differential diagnosis in therapeutically unresponsive patients with chronic thrombocytopenia.

Mediastinal germ cell tumor associated with histiocytic sarcoma of spleen: case report of an unusual association

We present an unusual association of mediastinal germ cell tumor containing seminoma and angiosarcoma components and splenic histiocytic sarcoma. A 15-year-old boy presented with chest pain. Histopathologically, an anterior mediastinal mass contained typical seminoma, immature teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, angiosarcoma, yolk sac tumor, and polyembryoma. An abdominal ultrasonogram revealed a huge splenomegaly with multiple ill-defined low echogenic nodules, 1 month after the second cycle of chemotherapy. Histopathologically, large, round-to-oval tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm often contained eccentrically placed nuclei with vesicular chromatin and an irregular nuclear membrane. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for CD68, CD31, and CD4. The cytogenetic results showed deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 and trisomy 8. This lesion might have been on the pathway of multistep tumorigenesis toward a final leukemia.

Extranodal histiocytic sarcoma: clinicopathologic analysis of 14 cases of a rare epithelioid malignancy

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that occurs in lymph nodes, skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. Many previously published cases were likely misdiagnosed examples of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Only small numbers of bona fide examples exist in the world literature; cases arising primarily at extranodal sites are not well described and often seem to go unrecognized. To characterize these tumors further, 14 extranodal histiocytic sarcomas were analyzed. Hematoxylin and eosin sections were reexamined, immunohistochemistry was performed, and clinical details were obtained from referring hospitals. Eight patients were female and 6 male (median age, 55 years; range, 15-89 years). All patients presented with a solitary mass, ranging in size from 1.8 to 12 cm (median 6.8 cm). Seven tumors arose in soft tissue (6 lower limb; 1 upper limb), 5 in the gastrointestinal tract (1 involving both stomach and colon, 1 ileum, 2 rectum, 1 anus), 1 in the nasal cavity, and 1 in the lung. Three gastrointestinal tract tumors also involved regional lymph nodes, and 1 involved the liver. Most cases had infiltrative margins. The tumors were generally composed of sheets of large epithelioid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, oval to irregular nuclei, vesicular chromatin, and large nucleoli. Binucleated cells were common, and 6 cases contained tumor giant cells. Mitoses ranged from 1 to 64 per 10 HPF (median 11 per 10 HPF). Necrosis was present in 8 cases. Nearly all tumors showed a striking inflammatory infiltrate, most often of neutrophils or lymphocytes. All cases were reactive for LCA, CD45RO, and CD68 (KP1 and PG-M1); 13 of 14 (93%) expressed CD4, 12 of 14 (86%) lysozyme, 8 of 10 (80%) CD31, 7 of 14 (50%) S-100 protein, and 5 of 14 (36%) focal CD1a. Two tumors showed weak, focal cytoplasmic positivity for CD30, and 1 for epithelial membrane antigen. The tumors were negative for ALK-1, CD21, CD35, CD3, CD20, CD34, myeloperoxidase, HMB-45, and keratins. Gastrointestinal tract cases were negative for c-kit and desmin. Six patients were treated with postoperative radiation and 7 with chemotherapy (CHOP or ProMACE-MOPP). Follow-up was available for 10 patients (median, 24 months; range, 4 months to 11 years). Two tumors recurred locally, and 5 patients developed distant spread: 3 to lymph nodes, 1 to lung, and 1 to bone. At the last follow-up, 2 patients have died of disseminated disease, 4 and 5 months following initial diagnosis. The patients who died thus far had the largest primary tumors. Histiocytic sarcoma may arise primarily in soft tissue and shows reproducible histologic features, including abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and a prominent inflammatory infiltrate. Metastatic carcinoma, metastatic melanoma, and large cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas should be excluded by immunohistochemistry. Histiocytic sarcoma has the potential for an aggressive clinical course, most often with lymph node involvement. However, a subset of cases presenting with clinically localized disease have a favorable long-term outcome. Tumor size may be a prognostic factor.

Primary histiocytic sarcoma of the spleen associated with erythrophagocytic histiocytosis

We report an exceptional case of a histiocytic sarcoma presenting as a primary isolated spleen tumor in a 71-year-old woman. The neoplastic cells in the cords and sinuses of the red pulp formed multiple lobulated tumors, which were detected in vivo by ultrasound scan. The medium cells, large cells and the giant cells expressed CD68, a histiocyte-associated marker, lysozyme and S100 protein. All these cells were negative for B- and T-cell markers, cytokeratins, melanosome markers (HMB45) and CD1a (Langerhans' cells). Many tumor cells displayed strong erythrophagocytosis and sometimes lymphocytophagocytosis. In addition, numerous histiocytes with morphology indistinguishable from reactive macrophages also exhibited a strong erythrophagocytosis, and were found in the tumor as well as in the normal splenic parenchyma. Despite multi-agent chemotherapy, the patient suffered from a relapse in the liver, with a rapid fatal outcome. A literature review showed that such a primary splenic presentation with multiple tumors is rare. In contrast, in systemic malignant histiocytosis, secondary spleen involvement occurs more frequently but with diffuse infiltration. The association with a reactive histiocytosis with erythrophagocytosis corresponds to "histiocytic medullary reticulosis", as previously described by Scott and Robb-Smith.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma of the spleen: report of a case with a review of the literature

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma is an extremely rare neoplasm that mainly occurs in the lymph nodes. We report a case of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma arising from the spleen, a previously unreported site for interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma. An 87-year-old woman, visiting Ashigara Hospital with complaints of palpitation and dyspnea, was found to have pancytopenia and low proteinemia. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scanning demonstrated severe splenomegaly with heterogeneous enhancement. She received a splenectomy under the clinical diagnosis of a splenic tumor. Grossly, the spleen was markedly enlarged, with confluent massive nodules. Microscopically, the normal architecture was effaced with diffuse proliferation of large pleomorphic cells arrayed in a somewhat sheet-like pattern. Erythrophagocytosis was commonly observed. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein, fascin, vimentin, and CD68, but uniformly negative for CD45, B- and T-cell markers, CD1a, CD30, complement receptors, CD34, Factor VIII, HMB-45, and lysozyme. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells possessed complex interdigitating cytoplasmic dendritic processes. Birbeck granules were absent. Based on these findings, the present case was diagnosed as interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma. The patient died of multiple liver metastases 3 months postoperatively.