Sinonasal Plasmablastic Lymphoma: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma.
• It is frequently associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
• Commonly found in the oral or gastrointestinal tract, sinonasal involvement is exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on sinonasal plasmablastic lymphoma.
• To analyze patient demographics, immune status, treatments, and outcomes.
• To understand the characteristics and management of this rare sinonasal malignancy.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of PubMed was performed for sinonasal PBL cases from 1978 to 2023.
• Studies in English reporting individual sinonasal PBL cases were included.
• Data on age, sex, immune status, treatment, and outcomes were extracted.

Main Results:

• Sinonasal PBL is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis.
• It predominantly affects immunocompromised adults but can occur in children and immunocompetent adults.
• Chemotherapy, particularly cyclophosphamide-based regimens, is the most frequent treatment, often followed by chemoradiation, though no regimen is definitively superior.

Conclusions:

• Sinonasal PBL is a rare entity requiring further investigation.
• Current treatment strategies, primarily chemotherapy, lack established superiority.
• More data are needed to optimize management and improve survival outcomes for patients with sinonasal PBL.