Primary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of pituitary

Hematologic Malignancies: Two Cases of a Rare Cause of Hypopituitarism

Hematologic malignancies are rare causes of sellar masses and hypopituitarism. We report 2 cases of hypopituitarism due to sellar masses from hematologic malignancies. The first patient was found to have hypopituitarism but initial non-gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sella did not demonstrate a mass. Subsequent gadolinium-enhanced MRI and transsphenoidal biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of intravascular lymphoma. Treatment with systemic chemotherapy resulted in resolution of abnormalities on MRI. The second patient had a known diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and sellar involvement contributing to hypopituitarism was confirmed on biopsy. Treatment with ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and stereotactic radiosurgery resulted in resolution of abnormalities on MRI. Both patients were treated with hormone replacement for hypopituitarism. These cases highlight that hematologic malignancies should be suspected as causes of sellar masses/hypopituitarism in patients with concurrent symptoms atypical for a pituitary adenoma (eg, constitutional symptoms), known diagnoses of hematologic malignancies, or rapid tumor growth and invasion on imaging. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI should be pursued if nonenhanced MRI is nondiagnostic. Transsphenoidal biopsy can be considered for diagnosis. Malignancy-directed systemic therapy may improve hypopituitarism and radiographic abnormalities on MRI.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma presenting with reticular telangiectasia on the trunk and panhypopituitarism: an autopsy case

A 75-year-old woman developed redness and swelling on her truncal skin, spreading from the lower abdomen to left thigh, 2 months before being admitted to our hospital. She was urgently hospitalised because of her worsening respiratory condition. On admission, she had reticular telangiectasia, diffuse skin induration on the lower abdomen and panhypopituitarism. She was diagnosed with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) by the third random abdominal skin biopsy. After histopathological examination at autopsy, we made a final diagnosis of IVLBCL causing respiratory failure and panhypopituitarism. This is the rare case of IVLBCL-induced panhypopituitarism showing visible skin lesions.

ICAM1-Negative Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma of the Pituitary Gland: A Case Report and Literature Review

Objective

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare and aggressive type of B-cell lymphoma with large cells growing within the lumen of blood vessels. Although previous reports revealed highly variable symptoms resulting from small-vessel occlusion by neoplastic cells in a variety of organs, there are few reports of IVLBCL with pituitary involvement.

Method

We present a case of IVLBCL with pituitary infiltration from our institution together with a literature review of similar cases to better understand this rare case of IVLBCL involving the pituitary gland.

Results

Our case and the pertinent literature demonstrated that IVLBCL with pituitary involvement predominantly occurred in women at a mean age of 64 years, and most of them showed panhypopituitarism that was reversible after standard therapy of rituximab-containing chemotherapy with intrathecal methotrexate. Notably, the pituitary biopsy in our case revealed that atypical large B-cells found within blood vessels and the pituitary gland were negative for intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1-negative lymphoid cells may have contributed to panhypopituitarism by extravasation into the pituitary tissues, which do not have a blood-brain barrier and receive abundant blood flow.

Conclusion

IVLBCL of the pituitary gland is a rare lymphoma with nonspecific manifestations and a dismal prognosis. Recognition of the clinicopathological features is necessary for early clinical diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Primary Pituitary Lymphoma As Rare Cause Of A Pituitary Mass And Hypopituitarism In Adulthood

OBJECTIVE

Differential diagnosis of nonadenomatous sellar masses causing hypopituitarism is still a challenge. Among these masses, growing evidence has demonstrated that primary pituitary lymphoma is a specific and emerging entity. The aim of our study was to describe our experience with a case of primary pituitary lymphoma and to perform a review of the available literature.

METHODS

We searched relevant databases up to March 2020, identifying 36 suitable articles basing on inclusion criteria (primary pituitary lymphoma in adult immunocompetent subjects). Overall, 43 cases were included in the review, adding a new case diagnosed and treated in our hospital. Epidemiologic data, clinical presentation, hormonal status, radiologic findings, pathology, treatment, and outcome were extracted.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 58.9 years, without gender difference. Symptoms related to mass were common (52.3%), in particular cranial nerve palsy (70.5%), headache (56.8%), and alteration in visual field (40.9%). Impaired hormonal status was detected in 89.7% of patients; of them, 58.9% presented with anterior pituitary failure (partial or total), while 25.6% presented with panhypopituitarism. Overall, diabetes insipidus was present in 30.8% and hyperprolactinemia in 41.0% of patients. The majority of patients presented a radiologically invasive mass in the suprasellar region and cavernous sinus (65.9% and 40.9%, respectively) and histologic diagnosis of diffuse B-cell lymphoma (54.5%).

CONCLUSION

The differential diagnosis of sellar and parasellar masses causing hypopituitarism should include primary pituitary lymphoma, even in absence of systemic symptoms or posterior pituitary dysfunction. The disease has a heterogeneous pattern, so a collaboration between endocrinologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and hematologists is desirable.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis: a case series and pooled analysis

PURPOSE

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (H-P axis) is a rare intracranial neoplasm. We aimed to determine the unique characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with PCNSL at the H-P axis and review the literature.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with PCNSL in our institute from 2000 to 2017. We analyzed patient characteristics, clinicopathologic features, imaging results, and treatment outcomes. Furthermore, we searched the PubMed database and gathered more cases from published studies to analyze patient treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 488 patients were diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma at our institute. Seven (1.4%) patients had H-P axis involvement, five had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and two had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. All patients had anterior pituitary lobe dysfunction, and two had posterior lobe dysfunction. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for seven patients was 29.0 (range: 0.9-48.1) months, and the 3-year survival rate was 42.9%. Pooled analysis included 45 patients. The median PFS for these patients was 7.0 months (0.9-52.0), and the 2-year survival rate was 20%. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the patients with visual field defects had better prognosis (p = 0.0153 and 0.043, respectively).

CONCLUSION

PCNSL at the H-P axis is associated with a higher rate of pituitary dysfunction than other parasellar pathologies. PCNSL at the H-P axis has a worse treatment outcome than PCNSL at other sites. However, visual field defect is related to a favorable prognosis in these patients.

A UNIQUE CASE OF CENTRAL HYPOPITUITARISM AND CENTRAL DIABETES INSIPIDUS CAUSED BY DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA

OBJECTIVE

To present the case of a 39-year-old male admitted to the hospital with diabetes insipidus as a sequela of a previously undiagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This case is unique, as the patient's disease was determined to be an infiltrative malignancy affecting the pituitary infundibular stalk, resulting in multifocal pituitary dysfunction.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

Initially presenting with gastrointestinal bleed, later discovered to be from tumor infiltration of gastric vessels, diagnosis of lymphoma was made when gastrectomy became necessary for hemostasis. Subsequent hypernatremia on basic laboratory studies led to further investigation and revealed central diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary was performed, showing thickening of the infundibular stalk. Additional endocrine evaluation revealed central hypothyroidism and central adrenal insufficiency.

CONCLUSION

Radiologic findings of thickened pituitary infundibulum can support the diagnosis of central diabetes insipidus when additional symptoms are present. Central diabetes insipidus due to lymphomatous infundibular stalk infiltration is an uncommon presentation of endocrine deficiency as well as malignancy; this case demonstrates the management of a critically ill patient with central hypopituitarism due to diffuse B-cell lymphoma.

Primary pulmonary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: A report of three cases and literature review

The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features of primary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) of the lung. The clinical and histopathological data of three patients, and the literature was reviewed. The Ethics Committees of Drum Tower Hospital approved the current study based on the three cases. Fever and respiratory symptoms were the main presenting symptoms. Serum lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were significantly increased. Diffuse ground glass opacities or nodular consolidations were seen on high resolution computed tomography. Lung biopsy revealed lymphoma cells in the lumen of small blood vessels. Tumor cells expressed cluster of differentiation 20 and melanoma associated antigen (mutated) 1. Primary pulmonary IVLBCL is extremely rare and its prognosis is poor. Full recognition of its clinical character and improvement of the diagnostic awareness may help to reduce missed diagnosis, and facilitate appropriate treatment.

Reversible Hypopituitarism Associated with Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Case Report of Successful Immunochemotherapy

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. There have been only a limited number of reports regarding pituitary dysfunction associated with IVLBCL. We present a 71-year-old woman with hypopituitarism without any hypothalamic/pituitary abnormalities as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. She presented with edema, abducens palsy, and elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase and soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Provocative testing showed that the peaks of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone were evoked to normal levels by simultaneous administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and corticotropin-releasing hormone, but the responses of these four pituitary hormones showed a delayed pattern. She was diagnosed with IVLBCL with cerebrospinal invasion by pathological findings of the bone marrow, skin, and cerebrospinal fluid. She achieved hematological remission after immunochemotherapy. Pituitary function was also restored without hormonal replacement, and the improvement of the pituitary function was confirmed by dynamic testing. We reviewed the literature with respect to hypopituitarism associated with IVLBCL. There were less than 20 case reports and most of the patients died. Endocrinological course was described in only two cases, and both of them required hormonal supplementation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hypopituitarism induced by IVLBCL that was successfully managed by immunochemotherapy alone. This case suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of IVLBCL might improve anterior pituitary function and enable patients to avoid hormone replacement therapy.

Primary pituitary lymphoma: an update of the literature

Primary intracranial lymphomas (Weller et al. in Neuro Oncol 14(12):1481-1484, 2012) are an emerging disease and an isolated localization in the pituitary gland i.e. primary pituitary lymphoma (PPL) represents a rare condition. We present an update of the most recent evidence for PPL through a systematic review of the literature. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed database up to October 2015. The population was defined as immunocompetent patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of PPL. Patients' characteristics, clinical presentation, radiological features, pathology reports, adjuvant treatment and follow-up data were analyzed. We reported one case of PPL and included our data in this analysis. A total of 33 cases of PPL were identified, including ours. A slight not significant female prevalence was evident, with a mean age of 59 years at diagnosis. Visual troubles and headaches were the most common presenting symptoms. About 80 % of patients presented a cranial nerve (CN) deficit. The most frequently involved were the II and III CN. Anterior hypopituitarism was present in 70 % of cases and a diabetes insipidus in 36 % of cases. PPL was rarely limited to the sella and most often extended to the suprasellar and parasellar space. 70 % of cases underwent resection, 21 % a biopsy. A B-cell lymphoma was isolated in 82 % of cases, a T-cell lymphoma in 15 % and a NK/T cell lymphoma in one case. Overall mean survival rate was 14.4 months (95 % confidence interval 9.0-19.8 months) and there was no difference in terms of survival rates when patients were stratified according to the treatment they received. PPL is an emerging clinical entity. Literature data are too scarce to allow the definition of specific protocols of treatment and the management is based on the guidelines present for PCNSL. The role of surgery aiming at a complete resection of PPL should be reevaluated in wider studies including only this category of patients, to establish the real role of each therapeutic strategy.

Primary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of the lung: a review and case report

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinicopathological features of primary intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) of the lung.

METHODS

Histopathological and clinical data based on lung biopsy were analyzed and used to diagnose a patient with IVLBCL of the lung.

RESULTS

Fever and respiratory symptoms were the main presentations, lung biopsy revealed lymphoma cells in the lumen of small blood vessels. Tumor cells expressed Bcl-2, the Bcl-6, CD20, Ki67, MUM-1, Pax5, CD, CD30, and vascular endothelial CD34.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary pulmonary IVLBCL of the lung is extremely rare, on chest CT it manifests as diffuse ground glass shadow, or nodular consolidations in the lung, lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein was found to increase, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is an important and significant diagnostic modality in its early diagnosis. Also, bronchial lung biopsy has the advantage of less trauma and high sensitive rate. R-CHOP is the main treatment for lung primary pulmonary IVLBCL of the lung; however, its prognosis is relatively poor.