Methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder demonstrating composite lymphoma of EBV-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer

Methotrexate-Induced Lymphoproliferative Disorder Complicating Into Spontaneous Tumor Lysis Syndrome and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) is a severe adverse outcome of methotrexate (MTX) administration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The immunosuppression caused is attributed to pathogenesis. Hence, discontinuation is the treatment. Reports on spontaneous tumor lysis with cessation of MTX are rare. We report a case of a female in her 50s with methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disease (MTX-LPD) following treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate was discontinued immediately. She presented two months later with severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS). Although tumor lysis syndrome responded well to rasburicase therapy, DIC was a challenge. MTX-LPD has various complications and highly variable presentation. RA/SLE patients receiving MTX should be regularly monitored, and MTX should be immediately stopped in suspicion of MTX-LPD. Although many patients respond to MTX cessation, some patients head to remission and relapse. At the same time, some worsen with complications such as DIC and tumor lysis syndrome, as described above. This case reiterates the need for regular monitoring following MTX therapy cessation for early identification and treatment of these complications to improve prognosis.

How I Diagnose EBV-Positive B- and T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders

OBJECTIVES

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) encompass a group of well-defined entities of B-, T-, and natural killer (NK)-cell derivation. The diagnosis of these disorders is challenging because of clinical and morphologic features that may overlap with other benign and malignant EBV+ lymphoproliferations. This review describes our approach to the diagnosis of EBV-associated LPDs.

METHODS

Two cases are presented that illustrate how we diagnose EBV-associated LPDs. The first case represents a systemic EBV+ T-cell lymphoma of childhood and the second case an EBV+ mucocutaneous ulcer. The clinicopathologic features that help distinguish these entities from biological and morphologic mimickers are emphasized.

RESULTS

The accurate diagnosis of EBV-associated LPDs requires the incorporation of histologic and immunophenotypic features, the assessment of the EBV latency program, and, most important, complete clinical findings. Clonality analysis is not helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant EBV+ LPDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The better understanding of EBV-associated LPDs has resulted in the recognition of well-defined entities of B-, T-, and NK-cell derivation and consequently improvement of their treatment with curative intent. It is critical to distinguish benign from malignant EBV+ LPDs to avoid overtreatment.

Methotrexate-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorder in a Patient with Psoriasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are heterogeneous clinicopathological entities developing in patients receiving immunosuppression. Outside the posttransplant setting, methotrexate (MTX), a drug commonly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, is an immunosuppressive agent frequently reported to be associated with LPD. MTX-associated LPD (MTX-LPD) includes a spectrum of lymphocytic proliferations, ranging from polyclonal hyperplasia to malignant lymphoma. MTX-LPD diagnosis can be challenging, as signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may overlap with those of several other conditions, including exacerbation of the underlying autoimmune disease. Spontaneous regression of LPD after MTX discontinuation is characteristic of MTX-LPD, therefore avoiding chemotherapeutic intervention in a significant proportion of patients. Other cases, however, should receive chemotherapy.

Co-Occurrence of EBV-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer (EBV-MCU) and CLL/SLL in the Head and Neck Region

EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBV-MCU) was classified as a rare new entity of the lymphoproliferative B-cell diseases by the WHO in 2017 and must be distinguished from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by early biopsy. The aim of the study is to raise awareness of the disease and to give a review of the current literature and a recommendation for EBV-MCU management. All EBV-MCU cases of the head and neck region published so far were included. We also report a case of a pharyngeal EBV-MCU in an 89-year-old patient who was immunosuppressed by chronic lymphatic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). In contrast to all previously described cases, histopathology showed a co-infiltration of EBV-MCU and CLL/SLL. A total of 181 cases were identified on PubMed and summarised. EBV-MCU was predominantly caused by immunosuppressive drug therapy. Complete remission could be achieved in 68% of cases and was mainly attributed to a reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy alone (72%). However, some severe cases require more aggressive treatment. Regarding the various histopathologic similarities to other lymphoproliferative disorders, the diagnosis of EBV-MCU can be misleading, with a great impact on patient care and treatment. This diagnosis must be made with caution and requires a combination of clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer: A Unique and Curious Disease Entity

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) was first described as a lymphoproliferative disorder in 2010. EBVMCU is a unifocal mucosal or cutaneous ulcer that often occurs after local trauma in patients with immunosuppression; the patients generally have a good prognosis. It is histologically characterized by proliferating EBV-positive atypical B cells accompanied by ulcers. On the basis of conventional pathologic criteria, EBVMCU may be misdiagnosed as EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or other lymphomas. However, its prognosis differs from that of EBV-associated lymphomas, in that patients with EBVMCU frequently show spontaneous regression or complete remission without chemotherapy. Therefore, EBVMCU is now recognized as a low-grade malignancy or a pseudo-malignant lesion. Avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy by distinguishing EBVMCU from other EBV-associated lymphomas will reduce the burden and unnecessary harm on patients. On the basis of these facts, EBVMCU was first described as a new clinicopathological entity by the World Health Organization in 2017. In this review, we discuss the clinicopathological characteristics of previously reported EBVMCU cases, while focusing on up-to-date clinical, pathological, and genetic aspects.

Clinicopathological evaluation of methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders with special focus on Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous lesions

Some patients diagnosed with methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD) develop spontaneous regression upon the discontinuation of MTX, whereas others require chemotherapy. The mechanisms underlying this differential response and the capacity to spontaneously regress are not clearly understood. We evaluated numerous clinicopathological features in 63 patients diagnosed with MTX-LPD, with a special focus on those with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive mucocutaneous lesions (EBVMCL). The diagnosis of EBVMCL included cases of both EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcers (EBVMCU) and diffuse gingival swelling associated with proliferation of EBV-positive large B-cells. Of the four subgroups of MTX-LPD, one-year treatment-free survival (TFS) after the discontinuation of MTX was achieved among those with EBVMCL (100%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (57%), Hodgkin-like lesions (60%), or classical Hodgkin lymphoma (29%); a significant difference in TFS was observed when comparing the responses of patients with EBVMCL to the those diagnosed with other subtypes. Multivariate analysis revealed predictive factors for prolonged TFS that included EBV-positive lesions and comparatively low levels of serum LDH. Taken together, our study suggests that a diagnosis of EBVMCL is related to the overall clinical outcome after the discontinuation of MTX.