A small case series of intravascular large b-cell lymphoma with unexpected findings: Subset of cases with concomitant extravascular Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement mimicking primary CNS lymphoma

Kate Poropatich*, Dave Dittmann, Yi Hua Chen, Kirtee Raparia, Kristy Wolniak, Juehua Gao

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal lymphoma with growth mainly in the lumina of vessels. We studied a small series of IVLBCL and focused on its central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Methods: Searching the medical records of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, we identified five cases of IVLBCL from January 2007 to January 2015. Clinical information, hematoxylin and eosin stained histologic slides and immunohistochemistry studies were reviewed for all cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy and light chain gene rearrangement was performed on all five cases. Results: Three of the five cases of IVLBCL were autopsies. Patients' age ranged from 56 to 84. CNS involvement was present in two cases-in both patients, the CNS involvement showed an extravascular pattern with confluent sheet-like formation. PCR analysis confirmed that in one case the systemic intravascular and CNS extravascular components were clonally identical. Conclusions: In a small case series of IVLBCL, we observed that CNS involvement by IVLBCL often has an extravascular morphology, but is clonally identical to the intravascular counterpart by PCR analysis. As IVLBCL can have a rapidly progressing poor outcome, it should be kept in the differential diagnoses for patients presenting with lymphoma of the CNS. The presence of extravascular growth patterns in the CNS should not exclude IVLBCL as a diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)284-291
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

Keywords

  • Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A small case series of intravascular large b-cell lymphoma with unexpected findings: Subset of cases with concomitant extravascular Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement mimicking primary CNS lymphoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this