Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of MALT-type occurring in the liver: a study of two cases.
METHODS
Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the liver are rare. One specific clinico-pathological entity has been identified as hepatosplenic gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma. Recently, another distinct primary lymphoma of the liver has been recognised as primary low-grade hepatic B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), based on a study comprising four cases. We analysed two additional cases of this particular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, not only by morphology and phenotyping, but also by genotyping and cytogenetic analysis.


RESULTS
This type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterised by a dense lymphoid infiltrate, localised in the portal tracts, and is associated with lympho-epithelial lesions of the bile ducts, thereby mimicking hepatitis or an inflammatory bile duct disorder. In one of our cases, translocation t(3;14)(q27;q32) was identified as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. A high incidence of trisomy 3 has been associated with marginal zone B-cell lymphomas, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation as well as comparative genomic hybridisation studies have shown frequent involvement of the long arm of chromosome 3. Nevertheless, t(3;14)(q27;q32) involving BCL6 gene, located at 3q27, has not yet been found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest a role for the BCL6 gene in the histogenesis of this particular lymphoma.
Maes
M
M
Department of Pathology, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium.
Depardieu
C
C
Dargent
J L
JL
Hermans
M
M
Verhaeghe
J L
JL
Delabie
J
J
Pittaluga
S
S
Troufléau
P
P
Verhest
A
A
De Wolf-Peeters
C
C
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007621:Karyotyping; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D015703:Antigens, CD; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains