Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with Anaplastic Clear Cells: A Rare Variant

Mónica Belinda Romero-Guadarrama, Leslie Elizmara Aguilar-Ayala, German Ott, Jorge Pérez-Espinosa

Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
Unit Pathology, Hospital General de México, OD and Medicine School, Autonomous National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpathology.2012.24028                

Abstract

Introduction: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous group conformed by morphological and clinical varieties of neoplasms; it originates from peripheral B-cells and is distinguished into three groups: germinal center (GC), activated B lymphocyte (ABL), and the third type. The existence of DLBCL with anaplastic morphology and expression of CD30 without t (2; 5) translocation is rare. The aim of the present article is to describe this morphologic variant in a 54-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man, respectively. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with DLBCL with anaplastic variant were identified from the surgical pathology records. Results: Out of 357 biopsies with this diagnosis, 11 (3%) corresponded to the anaplastic variant, 2 presented morphological clear cells; they became visible because of an increase in volume in the cervical area of 4 months of evolution, usually associated to diaphoresis and weight loss with clinical fulminating progression. An autopsy study was performed to one patient and it showed infiltration in supraclavicular lymph nodes, thyroid, and lung. The neoplastic cells presented abundant clear cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei that expressed CD20, CD30 and CD45. Conclusion: This variation is rare. The clinical presentation and prognosis are controversial; we present the morphological and immunophenotype changes of this variant. The differential diagnosis from other clear cell neoplasms should be made.

Keywords

B-Cell Anaplastic Lymphoma with Clear Cells

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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