Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a high number of epithelioid histiocytes (lymphoepithelioid B-cell lymphoma): a study of Osaka Lymphoma Study Group

Abstract

The aim of this study was to clarify whether diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with a high number of epithelioid histiocytes (DLBCL-EH) could have distinctive clinicopathological characteristics. Clinicopathological findings in 22 cases with DLBCL-EH and, as a control, 96 cases with ordinary type of DLBCL were analyzed. There were ten men and 12 women with ages ranging from 38 to 91 (median, 64) years. The primary site was lymph node in 16 cases, extranodal organs in three, and unknown in three. Stage of disease was I in five cases, II in three, III in nine, and IV in five. Histologically, there was a diffuse proliferation of large lymphoid cells admixed with numerous clusters of epithelioid histiocytes sprinkling throughout the lesions. Immunohistochemically, the large lymphoid cells were CD20(+), CD15(-), and CD3(-) and positive for CD10, bcl-6, and MUM1 in nine (41%), eight (36%), and 12 (55%) of 22 cases, respectively. Epstein-Barr virus positive rate was higher in DLBCL-EH (23.8%) than that in ordinary DLBCL (4.5%; P<0.05). Clonality analysis revealed monoclonal bands in all of the examined 20 cases with DLBCL-EH. Multivariate analysis revealed the prominent epithelioid reaction to be an independent factor for favorable prognosis. These findings suggest that DLBCL-EH could be a specific morphological variant of DLBCL associated with a better prognosis.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma with an interfollicular pattern of proliferation shows a favourable prognosis: a study of the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group

“…Macrophages play an important role as one of the non‐neoplastic, inflammatory cells in tumour tissues, where they are termed tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs were reported to be associated with a worse prognosis in patients with follicular lymphoma 6 or classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 7 whereas we found that a high number of epithelioid histiocytes in DLBCL was correlated with a better prognosis 8 . In contrast, Hasselblom et al.…”

Tumour‐associated macrophages in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: a study of the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group

“…Macrophages can play an important role in tumour tissues: they are termed tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs were reported to be associated with a worse prognosis in patients with follicular lymphoma 5 or classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 6 whereas we reported that a high number of epithelioid histiocytes in DLBCL was correlated with favourable prognosis 7 . In contrast, Hasselblom et al.…”

A Case Report on the Rare Presentation of the Primary Spinal Epidural Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

“…Extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) account for about 24%-48% of all NHLs [ 5 ]. Extra-nodal NHLs involving only the epidural space account for 3.3% of all lymphomas, 9% of all the epidural spinal tumors, and 0.9% of all extra-nodal NHLs [ 6 ].…”