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[Intravascular lymphomatosis manifesting in the lung]

J M Sastre1, R Folgado, O Burges

  • 1Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 17, 46010 Valencia.

Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|August 16, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Intravascular lymphomatosis is a rare condition where atypical B-cells infiltrate blood vessels, primarily affecting the lungs. Postmortem examination confirmed this diagnosis, highlighting the need for awareness of its pulmonary manifestations.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Pulmonology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is a rare, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the proliferation of lymphoid cells within small blood vessels.
  • This entity often presents with non-specific symptoms, making early diagnosis challenging.

Observation:

  • A case of IVL is presented with initial predominant symptoms localized to the lung, including cough and interstitial pulmonary infiltrates.
  • Late-stage symptoms included fever and confusion, underscoring the systemic potential of this disease.

Findings:

  • Postmortem examination revealed atypical cells, positive for CD45 and CD20 (leukocyte and pan-B cell markers) and negative for CD45-Ro and CD34 (pan-T and endothelial markers), occupying arterioles and capillaries within the lung alveolar walls.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the B-cell lineage of the atypical cells and their intravascular location.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering IVL in the differential diagnosis of unexplained pulmonary infiltrates and neurological symptoms.
  • Understanding the specific immunophenotype (CD45+, CD20+, CD45-Ro-, CD34-) is crucial for accurate pathological diagnosis.
  • Further research into earlier diagnostic markers and treatment strategies for IVL is warranted.

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