Myxoid change in malignant lymphoma. Pathogenetic considerations

Myxoid change is a rare phenomenon in malignant lymphoma, and its pathogenesis is not well understood. We present a case of large B-cell lymphoma of the small bowel in which myxoid change is confined to one of the regional lymph nodes involved by lymphoma. An increase of vimentin-positive mesenchymal cells in the myxoid zones compared with the nonmyxoid areas within the lymph node and a complete lack of myxoid change in the tumor occurring in other sites of this case suggest that the myxoid stroma results from some local factors (most probably tissue edema) stimulating proliferation of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts.