title: Unusual biclonal plasma cell dyscrasia with crystallike inclusions producing colonic tumors (plasma cell polyposis) and terminating in T-cell lymphoma.
abstract: A 62-year-old man underwent a partial colectomy for persistent rectal bleeding. Multiple submucosal lesions up to 7 cm in diameter were identified and were composed of plasmacytoid and histiocytoid cells with crystallike inclusions. Ultrastructurally, inclusions were bounded by rough endoplasmic reticulum. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a monoclonal population of IgA kappa-positive plasma cells. Immunofixation using a saline extract of the tumor revealed two distinct bands: one for IgG kappa and another for IgA kappa. Southern blotting revealed a germline configuration for the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene and the T-cell antigen receptor beta-chain gene. A bone marrow aspirate contained 12% plasma cells, some of which had cytoplasmic inclusions. Eight months after surgery, the patient developed a large mediastinal mass. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies indicated that this mass was an undifferentiated neoplasm. However, gene rearrangement studies indicated a T-cell lymphoma. This patient illustrates a rare association between a plasma cell neoplasm and a T-cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0662.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kornstein
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: deBlois
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*