Misdiagnosis of primary pleural DLBCL as tuberculosis: A case report and literature review

Features which discriminate between tuberculosis and haematologic malignancy as the cause of pleural effusions with high adenosine deaminase

BACKGROUND

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TBP). However, pleural effusions with high ADA can also be caused by other diseases, particularly hematologic malignant pleural effusion (hMPE). This study aimed to investigate the features that could differentiate TBP and hMPE in patients with pleural effusion ADA ≥ 40 IU/L.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study of patients with pleural effusion ADA ≥ 40 IU/L, conducted at a Korean tertiary referral hospital with an intermediate tuberculosis burden between January 2010 and December 2017. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the features associated with TBP and hMPE, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 1134 patients with ADA ≥ 40 IU/L, 375 (33.1%) and 85 (7.5%) were diagnosed with TBP and hMPE, respectively. TBP and hMPE accounted for 59% (257/433) and 6% (27/433) in patients with ADA between 70 and 150 IU/L, respectively. However, in patients with ADA ≥ 150 IU/L, they accounted for 7% (9/123) and 19% (23/123), respectively. When ADA between 40 and 70 IU/L was the reference category, ADA between 70 and 150 IU/L was independently associated with TBP (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.95-4.95; P < 0.001). ADA ≥ 150 IU/L was negatively associated with TBP (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.90; P = 0.029) and positively associated with hMPE (aOR, 13.21; 95% CI, 5.67-30.79; P < 0.001). In addition, TBP was independently associated with lymphocytes ≥ 35% and a lactate dehydrogenase (LD)/ADA ratio < 18 in pleural effusion. hMPE was independently associated with pleural polymorphonuclear neutrophils < 50%, thrombocytopenia, and higher serum LD. A combination of lymphocytes ≥ 35%, LD/ADA < 18, and ADA < 150 IU/L demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.824 and specificity of 0.937 for predicting TBP.

CONCLUSION

In patients with very high levels of pleural effusion ADA, hMPE should be considered. Several features in pleural effusion and serum may help to more effectively differentiate TBP from hMPE.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients affected by pulmonary primary lymphoma

Background

Primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) is defined as clonal abnormal hyperplasia of lung parenchyma or bronchial lymphoid tissue originating from bronchial mucosal tissue. However, PPL is rare, which accounts for approximately 3-4% of extraneurotic lymphomas and 0.5-1% of all primary tumors in the lung. Owing to the lack of any typical clinical symptoms and radiological features, it is challenging to accurately diagnose PPL, which affects its clinical management and prognosis. Considering this, herein, we aim to raise awareness of this disease and help physicians understand the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of PPL.

Method

A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging data of 19 patients diagnosed with PPL by biopsy pathology at our hospital from April 2014 to December 2021.

Results

Of the 19 PPL patients, 15 patients showed clinical symptoms with the most common being fever and cough. In addition, there were 4 cases that had no clinical symptoms, and all of them were MALT lymphoma. In fact, 16 patients were misdiagnosed as lobar pneumonia, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and diffuse interstitial inflammation, representing a misdiagnosis rate of 84.2%. Also, 73.7% were MALT lymphomas, representing the most common pathological pattern, along with 3 DLBCL and 2 T-cell lymphomas. With reguard to CT signs, the air-bronchial sign was found to be the most common, followed by the halo sign and the collapsed leaf sign. On the basis of the predominant radiologic features, lesions were categorized as pneumonic consolidation, nodular/mass type, diffuse interstitial type, and mixed type. The average SUVmax of lesions was 7.23 ± 4.75, the ratio of SUVmax (lesion/liver) was 3.46 ± 2.25, and the ratio of SUVmax (lesion/mediastinal blood pool) was found to be 5.25 ± 3.27. Of interest, the different pathological types of PPL showed different values of 18F-FDG uptake. The 18F-FDG uptake of DLCBL was the most prominent with a SUVmax of 15.33 ± 6.30 and was higher than that of MALT lymphoma with a SUVmax of 5.74 ± 2.65. There appeared similarity in 18F-FDG uptake between MALT lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma. For the SUVmax of lesion, we found statistical significance between MALT lymphoma and DLCBL (P value<0.001). In addition, we also found statistical significance (P value < 0.05) in SUVmax of lesions between pneumonic consolidation type and nodal/mass type, I stage, and other stages.

Conclusions

On 18F-FDG PET/CT images, certain features of PPL morphology and metabolism can be identified that may contribute to a better understanding of this disease. In addition, 18F-FDG PET/CT whole-body imaging has the potential to refine the staging of PPL. Most importantly, functional 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging can readily reflect tumor cell activity, thus allowing for the selection of an optimal biopsy site.

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Presenting as a Primary Pleural Mass: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary pleural lymphoma is a rare type of lymphoma that accounts for only ​​0.3% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The rarity and nonspecific clinical presentation of primary pleural lymphomas pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We present an atypical case of primary pleural lymphoma in an elderly patient without any associated pleuro-pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, or history of lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is one of the first described cases of a primary pleural lymphoma with such a presentation.

Laboratory and radiological discrimination between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions with high adenosine deaminase levels

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels are useful in discriminating tuberculous pleural effusions (TPEs) from malignant pleural effusions (MPEs). However, some patients with MPE exhibit high-ADA levels, which may mimic TPEs. There is limited data regarding the differential diagnosis between high-ADA MPE and high-ADA TPE. This study aimed to identify the predictors for distinguishing high-ADA MPEs from high-ADA TPEs.

METHODS

Patients with TPE and MPE with pleural fluid ADA levels ≥ 40 IU/L were included in this study. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were compared between the two groups. Independent predictors and their diagnostic performance for high-ADA MPEs were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients (high-ADA MPE, n = 30, and high-ADA TPE, n = 170) were retrospectively included. In the multivariate analysis, pleural fluid ADA, pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and pleural nodularity were independent discriminators between high-ADA MPE and high-ADA TPE groups. Using pleural ADA level of 40 to 56 IU/L (3 points), pleural CEA level ≥ 6 ng/mL (6 points), and presence of pleural nodularity (3 points) for predicting high-ADA MPEs, a sum score ≥ 6 points yielded a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 96%, positive predictive value of 82%, negative predictive value of 98%, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.965.

CONCLUSION

A scoring system using three parameters may be helpful in guiding the differential diagnosis between high-ADA MPEs and high-ADA TPEs.

Not Always (and Only) Heart Failure-A Case Report of Primary Pleural Lymphoma in an Elderly Patient

Pleural involvement in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is well documented, but primary pleural lymphomas are extremely rare, occurring mostly in immunosuppressed patients or associated with chronic pleural inflammation. Nevertheless, the pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches to counteract primary pleural lymphomas are still matter of debate. The authors present the clinical case of an 81-year-old female with respiratory and constitutional symptoms. A valvular heart disease and bilateral pleural effusion were known. The study carried out showed a large right pleural effusion; the fluid analysis was compatible with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), and two lymphomatous masses with pleural origin were found at the ipsilateral hemithorax. Primary pleural lymphoma was considered and chemotherapy was initiated with a good response and evolution. The authors report this remarkable clinical case because of its rarity, its excellent clinical evolution and the absence of an immunodeficiency context.

A retrospective study on the clinical characteristics and radiological features of primary pulmonary lymphoma

Background

The retrospective study was mainly performed to determine the clinical symptoms and radiological characteristics of primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) to improve the recognition and diagnosis of the disease.

Methods

Between June 2007 and June 2019, the clinical data and radiological images of the 16 patients with PPL confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Among the 16 patients with PPL (6 males and 10 females, aged 32 to 72 years, with a median age of 55.13 years), 9 patients were mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) and 7 patients were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); all of the patients did not suffer from autoimmune disease [such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or Sjogren’s syndrome (SSS)]; and 11 patients had a long-term smoking history from 10 to 40 years. The common clinical symptoms were as follows: chest discomfort (n=8), cough (n=10), chest pain (n=7), fever (n=6), apnea (n=1), fatigue (n=4) and weight loss (n=3), however, 6 cases did not show clear symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Blood tests revealed anemia (n=6), thrombocytopenia (n=2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (n=7), C-reactive protein (CRP) (n=9), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (n=8) and no tumor-related indexes were detected abnormal. The chest radiological images showed a total of 8 cases with multiple masses, 2 cases with different types of nodes, 4 cases with patchy infiltration or consolidation shadow, with or without an air bronchogram, and 2 cases with a mixed manifestation. All the lesions were only involved in unilateral lung (13 right, 3 left), none of them located on bilateral lung fields. At the time of admission, the patients were misdiagnosed as lung cancer (n=9), pneumonia (n=5), tuberculosis (n=1), and diffuse interstitial lung disease (n=1). Then final pathological diagnosis was confirmed by surgery (n=9), percutaneous lung biopsy (n=5), and bronchoscopic biopsy (n=2).

Conclusions

PPL is a rare disease, though clinical symptoms and radiological characteristics are not typical, they serve as significant clues for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis mainly depends on histopathological examination, however, conducting a retrospectively study could improve and enrich our knowledge to the disease and reduce inappropriate treatments.

Primary pleural lymphoma of T cell origin in a paediatric patient with a focus on radiological findings - a case report and review of literature

Purpose

Pleural lymphoma is a medical condition characterised by shortness of breath and obscure chest pain, which may be a diagnostic challenge, especially when it occurs in children. Plain chest X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scan are the main imaging techniques and are the initial diagnostic methods utilised.

Case report

A four-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency ward with pain in the right thoracoabdominal region, which had persisted for two months. Physical examination revealed reduced respiratory sounds in the right chest, but with no other significant findings. The patient underwent chest X-ray and CT scan, which showed right sided pleural thickening coupled with a massive pleural effusion. The patient underwent pleural biopsy, and a diagnosis of T-cell primary pleural lymphoma was made. The patient underwent treatment with BFM-NHL and was followed for three years, during which the patient remained disease free.

Conclusions

Pleural lymphoma is a rare diagnosis especially in children and could have overlapping clinical manifestations with more common conditions. Imaging techniques are the main route of clinical work-up towards final diagnosis. Here, we present a rare paediatric patient with no significant past medical history, who underwent imaging and was diagnosed with T-cell primary pleural lymphoma, a very rare subtype of primary pleural lymphoma.

Primary Chest Wall MYC/BCL6 Double-hit Lymphoma with t (3;7) (q27;p12) and t (8;14) (q24;q32) Translocations

Primary chest wall lymphoma is rare and typically associated with chronic pleural inflammation. Double-hit lymphoma (DHL), which is defined as aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 or BCL6 rearrangements, is a highly aggressive malignancy that tends to have extranodal involvement and is resistant to standard immunochemotherapy. We herein report a 55-year-old man with no history of chronic pleural inflammation, diagnosed with primary chest wall DHL with MYC/BCL6 rearrangement, and harboring a unique BCL6 translocation, t (3;7) (q27;p12). After six courses of intensive chemotherapy, he has achieved complete remission. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of primary chest wall DHL.