Acute liver failure due to natural killer-like T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: A case report and review of the Literature

Acute liver failure secondary to malignant infiltration: A single center experience

Acute liver failure (ALF) requires early and very precise treatment decisions for a diagnosis that is not often easy and may lead to erroneous decisions. Accordingly, we undertook a review of ALF secondary to malignant infiltration given the rarity of the condition, plus its singularity and therapeutic implications. This review should aid in establishing future frameworks for action. Analyze cases of ALF secondary to malignant infiltration in our center during the last 5 years and review the literature. We undertook a retrospective review of all cases of ALF due to malignant infiltration in our center between January 2015 and December 2019. Data were recorded on demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, type of tumor, diagnostic techniques used, treatment and evolution. We also undertook a literature review on the subject and compared the results. AFL secondary to malignant infiltration was diagnosed in five patients, four women and one man with a median age 58 years. The most common clinical presentation was jaundice. Three cases were due to infiltration by hematological tumors (non-Hodgkin lymphoma and histiocytosis), one a cholangiocarcinoma and one lung cancer. In all cases a liver biopsy was required for diagnosis, this being conclusive in four cases; diagnosis in the non-conclusive case was by analysis of the hepatectomy sample after transplantation. Three patients died due to AFL in a mean of 13.8 days, another died 5 months after diagnosis as a consequence of the tumor while the patient with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and transplant recipient remains alive after a follow-up of 6 years and after receiving chemotherapy. AFL due to malignant infiltration is a very unusual condition but with a high rate of mortality. It requires a rapid and precise diagnosis given the relevant treatment options.

Secondary involvement of gallbladder by acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting clinically as cholecystitis in a young patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Primary lymphoma of the liver, gallbladder, and extrahepatic bile ducts or secondary involvement of these organs by leukemia is exceedingly rare. Patients with primary lymphoma or leukemic involvement of the biliary tract and liver often present with symptoms and signs of biliary tract obstruction or inflammation.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of a 24-year-old male with biliary tract symptoms who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. His precholecystectomy complete blood count performed on the same morning showed 72% lymphocytes while peripheral blood smears showed approximately 15% blasts. Surgeon went ahead with the procedure. Imaging done prior to surgery showed thickened gallbladder, while the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas did not show any thickening or mass lesion. However, the liver was enlarged. Grossly, the gallbladder wall did not show any stones or discrete mass involving the wall. Instead, there was subtle thickening of the gallbladder wall due to diffuse infiltration by the leukemic infiltrate. This lymphoid population reacted with PAX-5 and TdT immunohistochemical antibodies in a diffuse manner confirming precursor B-cell origin. This patient was found to have B-lymphoblastic leukemia involving his bone marrow on further clinical and diagnostic workup. Patient responded well to chemotherapy and is currently on maintenance treatment. He is well 1.5 years after his diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights a unique and rare scenario where a previously undiagnosed and unsuspected hematologic malignancy initially presented with clinical features of a chronic inflammatory condition involving an abdominal organ owing to secondary involvement by the malignant infiltrate.

A case of acute liver failure due to aggressive natural killer-cell leukemia with a rapid course

An 87-year-old man consulted a former doctor with a complaint of black stool and was admitted to hospital because of anemia and multiple gastric ulcers. The laboratory findings showed that his hepatobiliary enzyme levels and inflammatory response were elevated. Computed tomography showed hepatosplenomegaly and enlarged intra-abdominal lymph nodes. Two days later, he was transferred to our hospital due to deterioration of his liver function. Since he had low level of consciousness and his ammonia level was high, we diagnosed him with acute liver failure (ALF) with hepatic coma, and started on-line hemodiafiltration. As the cause of ALF, we suspected hepatic involvement of a hematologic tumor because of high lactate dehydrogenase and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels and large abnormal lymphocyte-like cells in the peripheral blood. Because of his poor general condition, bone marrow and other histological examinations were difficult, and he died on the third day of hospitalization. Pathological autopsy showed marked hepatosplenomegaly and the proliferation of large abnormal lymphocyte-like cells in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Immunostaining revealed aggressive natural killer-cell leukemia (ANKL).We herein report a rare case of the development of ALF with coma due to ANKL with a review of the relevant literature.

Systematic analysis on multiple Gene Expression Omnibus data sets reveals fierce immune response in hepatitis B virus-related acute liver failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common type of liver failure in the world, with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, the prevalence, genetic background and factors determining the development of HBV‐related ALF are rarely studied. In this study, we examined three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets by bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), key biological processes and pathways. Immune infiltration analysis showed high immune cells infiltration in HBV‐related ALF tissue. We then confirmed natural killer cells and macrophages infiltration in clinical samples by immunohistochemistry assay, implying these cells play a significant role in HBV‐ALF. We found 1277 genes were co‐up‐regulated and that 1082 genes were co‐down‐regulated in the 3 data sets. Inflammation‐related pathways were enriched in the co‐up‐regulated genes and synthetic metabolic pathways were enriched in the co‐down‐regulated genes. WGCNA also revealed a key module enriching in immune inflammation response and identified 10 hub genes, differentially expressed in an independent data set. In conclusion, we identified fierce immune inflammatory response to elucidate the immune‐driven mechanism of HBV‐ALF and 10 hub genes based on gene expression profiles.

Acute myeloid leukaemia presenting as acute liver failure-a case report and literature review

A 75-year-old woman presented with rapidly progressive fatigue, abdominal pain and jaundice. Physical examination revealed tender abdomen and splenomegaly. Magnetic resonance cholangiogram showed marked hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and scattered nodules or masses in the liver and spleen. The patient expired from multiorgan failure. Autopsy revealed infiltration of the liver, spleen and bone marrow by acute myeloid leukaemia.

Natural Killer-Like T-Cell Lymphoma: A Rare Cause of Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure is characterized by encephalopathy and disruption of hepatic function, often requiring liver transplantation to prevent fatal consequences. We present a 33-year-old man with recurrent lymphoma presenting with acute liver failure, which was initially thought to be from drug-induced liver injury associated with his chemotherapy medication, asparaginase. However, liver biopsy revealed malignant infiltration by lymphoma. The subtype of lymphoma was natural killer–like T-cell lymphoma, which is an uncommon variant, and has rarely been associated with hepatic infiltration. His condition rapidly worsened with development of multiorgan failure leading to death.

Fulminant Hepatic Failure due to Primary Hepatic Lymphoma: a Case Report

Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare malignancy usually presenting withsymptoms of fever, hepatomegaly, jaundice and weight loss. This picture mimicsinfectious and inflammatory disorders and thus delays the diagnosis. Here,we present a 47-year old man with prolonged fever who underwent several investigationsand, in the meantime, developed fulminant hepatic failure beforethe diagnosis could be reached.

Acute liver failure because of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: case report and review of the literature

Infiltration of the liver by hematologic malignancies is an uncommon cause of liver failure. B-Cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (cll) is a usually indolent disease that may infiltrate the liver, but based on a review of the literature, has never been reported to induce acute liver failure. Here, we describe the case of a 78-year-old woman with acute liver failure secondary to infiltration with cll being unresponsive to chemotherapy and causing death. This case is notable because of its atypical presentation and ultimate poor prognosis.

[Extramedullary blastic transformation revealed by a prolonged fever during the course of a 5q- syndrome]

INTRODUCTION

Fever during a myelodysplastic syndrome can be due to infectious complications, systemic disease or acute transformation with clonal evolution.

CASE REPORT

A 51-year-old woman, with a 5q- syndrome and neutropenia, presented with a several week fever duration. Infectious work-up was negative and therapy with antibiotics had no influence on the clinical course. Neither bone marrow nor blood blasts were detected, but liver biopsy demonstrated significant blast infiltration compatible with the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

CONCLUSION

The absence of blasts in blood or bone marrow does not exclude the malignant transformation of a myelodysplastic syndrome to AML. Tissue biopsy may be necessary to confirm the leukaemic progression.

Characteristics of common solid liver lesions and recommendations for diagnostic workup

Due to the widespread clinical use of imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), previously unsuspected liver masses are increasingly being found in asymptomatic patients. This review discusses the various characteristics of the most common solid liver lesions and recommends a practical approach for diagnostic workup. Likely diagnoses include hepatocellular carcinoma (the most likely; a solid liver lesion in a cirrhotic liver) and hemangioma (generally presenting as a mass in a non-cirrhotic liver). Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatic adenoma should be ruled out in young women. In 70% of cases, MRI with gadolinium differentiates between these lesions. Fine needle core biopsy or aspiration, or both, might be required in doubtful cases. If uncertainty persists as to the nature of the lesion, surgical resection is recommended. If the patient is known to have a primary malignancy and the lesion was found at tumor staging or follow up, histology is required only when the nature of the liver lesion is doubtful.