Amyloid tumors of the lung--an immunocytoma?

Amyloid tumors are nodular amyloid depositions usually limited to one organ, which often develop without a known cause. In most cases they may be observed as being situated in the lung, the larynx, the skin, the urinary bladder and in the region of the orbita, and are restricted to these organs. In the present study, we report on two cases of pulmonal amyloid tumors which after immunohistochemical investigation revealed a clonal evolution of light chain restricted plasma cells and lymphocytes corresponding to a localized primary extranodal lymphoplasmacytic immunocytoma, with only few vital tumor cells among abundant tumor-shaped amyloid. Additionally, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate IgH gene rearrangement, clonality of the tumor cells could be demonstrated in both cases.