Localized AL amyloidosis of the colon: an unrecognized entity

Localized Rectal Amyloidosis with Morphologic Changes from the Submucosal Tumor to the Ulcerative Lesion That Led to Hematochezia During Observation

A 75-year-old woman visited our hospital with constipation. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor in the rectum. She was followed up as a case of mucosal prolapse syndrome. Six years later, she was referred to our hospital due to hematochezia and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed that the submucosal tumor had an ulcerative appearance with bleeding. Low anterior resection was performed. Amyloid protein deposition was detected from the submucosa to subserosa. Other organs showed no evidence of amyloidosis; we therefore diagnosed the patient with localized rectal amyloidosis. This is a rare case of symptomatic localized rectal amyloidosis whose long-term progression was able to be endoscopically observed.

A case of localized colorectal wild-type ATTR amyloidosis complicated by early stage colorectal cancer and a CMV-associated ulcer during the long-term follow-up

Gastrointestinal involvement is a rare manifestation of systemic amyloidosis, and few reports have been published on localized amyloidosis of the colon. Only one case report has been published on the long-term prognosis of localized colorectal amyloidosis, and there are no previous reports on localized colorectal ATTR amyloidosis. Here, we report an 80-year-old male with localized colorectal wild-type ATTR amyloidosis who presented with edematous mucosa with vascular changes throughout the colon. He did not exhibit any symptoms or endoscopic exacerbation for 8 years after diagnosis. However, after 8 years, he developed early stage colorectal cancer and cytomegalovirus-associated ulcer. He was treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection, which was relatively challenging due to his hemorrhagic condition and poor elevation of the submucosa caused by amyloid deposits. Since the tumor was completely resected, he will undergo regular follow-up. Our review of 20 previous cases of localized colorectal amyloidosis revealed its clinical features and long-term prognosis. Specifically, ours is the second case of a diffuse pan-colon type of colorectal localized amyloidosis, which may lead to various complications, such as colorectal cancer, over a long period of time, and thus, regular follow-up is necessary.

Primary Localized Amyloidosis of the Intestine: A Pathologist Viewpoint

Background

Localized amyloidosis of the intestine is a rare entity, which can clinically masquerade several conditions such as colitis, polyps, and malignant tumors. This study aims to evaluate the clinicopathological features of this entity.

Methods

To evaluate the clinicopathological features of this entity, a comprehensive search of the literature (1960 to 2019) was done using the following keywords: "amyloidosis" and "small intestine" or "duodenum" or "ileum" or "jejunum" or "colon". We identified 756 studies about gastrointestinal amyloidosis. Data were examined for 27 studies about localized intestinal amyloidosis. The clinicopathological features were described.

Results

The age at presentation ranged from 29 to 88 years. The male to female ratio was 3:1. The jejunum and sigmoid colon were the most commonly involved sites. Abdominal pain and intestinal obstruction (small intestine), or rectal bleeding (sigmoid region) were the most common clinical presentations. Colonoscopic findings included wall thickening, mucosal ulcerations (small intestine), and tumor-like masses (colon).

Conclusions

The clinical presentations of localized intestinal amyloidosis depend on the site of the deposition of the amyloid. In most cases, amyloid deposits consisted of light chain protein.

Recurrent pericardial effusion with pericardial amyloid deposition: a case report and literature review

Pericardial amyloidosis is a rare cause of pericardial effusion. Here, we report a case of recurrent pericardial effusion because of pericardial amyloid deposition. The patient was a man in his 40s admitted for pulmonary embolism. During hospitalization, arterial fibrillation and cardiac tamponade were observed, and an initial pericardial puncture was performed. Thereafter, pericardial puncture was repeated nine times over the next two years. Cytological examination of the pericardial effusion suggested malignant mesothelioma. Afterward, pericardial fenestration and partial resection were performed. Intraoperatively, a thickened pericardium and hemorrhagic pericardial effusion were noted. Histologically, the surface of the pericardium was covered by an eosinophilic amorphous material. Congo red and DYLON stains, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical findings revealed localized amyloidosis composed of an immunoglobulin lambda light chain. Although the patient did not receive further treatment for 5 years postoperatively, his renal and cardiac functions remained within normal limits. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with localized amyloidosis. So far, hemorrhagic pericardial effusion has been reported in few cases with systemic amyloidosis. Because localized immunoglobulin light-chain-derived (AL) amyloidosis may progress to systemic disease (although it is a very rare occurrence), long-term follow-up is necessary to detect recurrence or progression to a systemic form.

New developments in diagnosis, risk assessment and management in systemic amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a group of disorders characterized by a misfolded protein that deposits in organs and compromise their function. Clinician should have a high index of suspicion because in most cases, the clinical picture is non-specific. Typing of amyloid is of utmost importance and should be an integral part of accurately diagnosing a patient. AL amyloidosis is the most common systemic amyloidosis in the western world in which the misfolded proteins are immunoglobulin light chains secreted by clonal plasma cells. New data about prognostication of AL amyloidosis patients are accumulating. The treatment goal is to eradicate the amyloidogenic plasma cell clone, by using high dose melphalan and/or novel agents (proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, monoclonal antibodies against CD38). Early diagnosis is important for effectively treating the patient as late diagnosis hampers chances for organ recovery. ATTR amyloidosis is less recognized but is increasingly seen due to better recognition and improved diagnostic tools. New data about treatment options (patisiran, inotersen and tafamidis) have recently been published and are discussed.

Renal-limited AL amyloidosis - a diagnostic and management dilemma

Background

Amyloidosis is a disorder caused by extracellular tissue deposition of insoluble fibrils which may result in a wide spectrum of symptoms depending upon their types, sites and amount of deposition. Amyloidosis can be divided into either systemic or localized disease.

Case presentation

We present a case of a middle-aged gentleman who presented with persistent nephrotic syndrome with worsening renal function. Repeated renal biopsies showed the presence of renal-limited AL amyloidosis. Systemic amyloidosis workup was unremarkable apart from a slightly raised band of IgG lambda level with no associated immunoparesis. The nephrotic syndrome and renal histology did not improve over a 3-year period despite being given two courses of chemotherapies.

Conclusion

We hope that early recognition of this unusual localised presentation of renal- limited AL Amyloidosis and its poor response to conventional treatment can alert the nephrologist to the potential existence of this rare condition.

Globular amyloidosis of the colon

Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent in systemic amyloidosis. However, amyloidosis can rarely be confined to the gastrointestinal tract or appear as a tumour mass. There have been few reports describing amyloid globular deposits in a variety of locations, as opposed to the usual linear ones. We herein report a rare case of globular amyloidosis involving the large bowel, which to the best of our knowledge is the second reported in the world literature. A 74-year-old man consulted on anaemia. Endoscopy showed ulcerative lesions in the left colon, which were biopsied and diagnosed as ischemic colitis. Under light microscopy, we found globular discrete deposits in the lamina propria which were Congo red-positive and resistant to permanganate digestion. Histopathological diagnosis was globular amyloidosis with AL deposits. The patient underwent further studies, including a haematologic evaluation that discarded systemic involvement. Globular amyloidosis seems to be a rare morphologic type of amyloidosis, but not a distinct entity. Its etiology, pathogenesis and relationship with patient prognosis and disease severity remain largely unknown. When amyloid deposits are confined to the gastrointestinal tract, systemic therapy can be avoided and patients should only be followed periodically. Immunohistochemical classification and clinical correlation are essential to rule out systemic amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis of the Lung

CONTEXT

-Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by the deposition of congophilic amyloid fibrils in the extracellular matrix of tissues and organs. To date, 31 fibril proteins have been identified in humans, and it is now recommended that amyloidoses be named after these fibril proteins. Based on this classification scheme, the most common forms of amyloidosis include systemic AL (formerly primary), systemic AA (formerly secondary), systemic wild-type ATTR (formerly age-related or senile systemic), and systemic hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (formerly familial amyloid polyneuropathy). Three different clinicopathologic forms of amyloidosis can be seen in the lungs: diffuse alveolar-septal amyloidosis, nodular pulmonary amyloidosis, and tracheobronchial amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE

-To clarify the relationship between the fibril protein-based amyloidosis classification system and the clinicopathologic forms of pulmonary amyloidosis and to provide a useful guide for diagnosing these entities for the practicing pathologist.

DATA SOURCES

-This is a narrative review based on PubMed searches and the authors' own experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

-Diffuse alveolar-septal amyloidosis is usually caused by systemic AL amyloidosis, whereas nodular pulmonary amyloidosis and tracheobronchial amyloidosis usually represent localized AL amyloidosis. However, these generalized scenarios cannot always be applied to individual cases. Because the treatment options for amyloidosis are dependent on the fibril protein-based classifications and whether the process is systemic or localized, the workup of new clinically relevant cases should include amyloid subtyping (preferably with mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis) and further clinical investigation.

How to manage primary amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis is a protein deposition disorder where the precursor protein represents a monoclonal immunoglobulin light or heavy chain. Deposition in viscera results in restrictive cardiomyopathy, nephrotic range proteinuria, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, hepatomegaly and malabsorption syndrome. Diagnosis requires biopsy with Congo red staining. Invasive biopsies are not required generally. It is essential that after a histologic diagnosis is obtained, the tissue is validated to have an immunoglobulin light chain composition so patients are spared unnecessary chemotherapy. The disease prognosis and patient monitoring are linked to serialized measurement of cardiac biomarkers and immunoglobulin-free light chains. Most patients require cytotoxic chemotherapy. For some patients, this therapy involves stem cell collection and myeloablative chemotherapy; for others, chemotherapy includes an alkylator and a corticosteroid; and for some, it involves addition of a novel agent in the form of an immunomodulatory drug or a proteasome inhibitor. Delays in diagnosis continue to be an obstacle to initiating effective therapy. Early mortality rates remain high. Effective chemotherapy can result in reversal of organ dysfunction and recovery. Reductions in light chain production translate to improved survival.

Localized amyloidosis of the genitourinary tract: report of 5 new cases and review of the literature

Primary localized amyloidosis of the genitourinary tract is a rare entity characterized by small pseudotumors localized in the renal pelvis, ureters, or bladder. Amyloid fibrils are derived from immunoglobulin light chains, but no systemic plasma cell proliferation is detected. The clinical and radiologic features mimic urinary tract cancer, and local treatment is indicated. The prognosis is excellent in most cases, although disease recurrence is possible. We report 5 new cases of localized amyloidosis of the urinary tract, with lambda (4/5), or kappa (1/5) chain amyloid protein, involving the bladder (5/5), and the ureter and renal pelvis (1/5), with multiple, bilateral lesions in 1 case. The presenting complaint was painless hematuria in 4 cases. All cases were of primary (AL)-type amyloidosis. All patients underwent extensive investigation, and none presented any signs of generalized amyloidosis. A favorable outcome was observed in every case. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature, and summarize the data.

Amyloid and the GI tract

Amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular deposition of an abnormal fibrillar protein, which disrupts tissue structure and function. Amyloid may be localized to a single organ, such as the GI tract, or be systemic where the amyloid type is defined by the respective fibril precursor protein. Among patients with systemic amyloidosis, histological involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is very common but often subclinical. The presence and pattern of GI symptoms varies substantially, not only between the different amyloid types but also within them. GI presentations are frequently nonspecific and include macroglossia, dyspepsia, hemorrhage, a change in bowel habit and malabsorption. Endoscopic and radiological features of amyloidosis are also nonspecific, with the small intestine most commonly affected. In the absence of specific treatments for GI amyloidosis, therapy is aimed at reducing or eliminating the supply of the respective fibril precursor protein. Supportive measures such as nutritional support and antidiarrheal agents should be instigated while awaiting the clinical improvement associated with a successful reduction in the abundance of the fibril precursor protein. GI tract surgery should be performed only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, as there is a risk of decompensation of organs affected by amyloid.

Localized amyloidosis: a survey of 35 French cases

Since the prognosis of localized amyloidosis remains unclear, we conducted a survey to define the characteristics and the course of this disease. The charts of 35 patients with either laryngeal (14 patients), tracheobronchial (10 patients), colonic (1 patient), or lower urinary tract amyloidosis (10 patients) were analyzed. The average age at diagnosis was 52.7+/-12 years (range 33-73 years). The amyloid protein type was specified to be amyloid light chain (AL) in 15 cases. All patients had undergone additional biopsies (accessory salivary glands, rectal, fat pad and bone marrow aspirates) to rule out a systemic disease. Symptomatic treatments included endoscopic excision and laser therapy. Colchicine and chemotherapy with prednisone and melphalan were prescribed with limited success. During a mean follow-up period of 6.1+/-5.3 years no patient developed a systemic form of amyloidosis. Six deaths were reported, one related to the disease because of a fatal airway hemorrhage. We suggest that immunolabeling studies should be more routinely performed. There was no risk of developing a systemic disease from local amyloid deposits in our survey. However, local evolution can be life-threatening. Such patients should be referred to specialist centers for further evaluation. Management requires close follow-up to exclude recurrence and to determine the appropriate symptomatic treatment.