Russell body gastritis: an unusual, tumor-like lesion of the gastric mucosa.
The case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with epigastric symptoms is reported. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy displayed Candida esophagitis and a localized swelling of the fundic mucosa. Histologic examination of the gastric biopsy showed a distinctive accumulation of numerous uniform plasma cells filled with so-called Russell bodies. On low-power view, the lesion resembled a neoplastic process due to the marked expansion of the lamina propria with distension of fundic glands. However, immunohistochemistry confirmed a polyclonal pattern of the plasma cells. This unusual reactive lesion of the gastric mucosa has only rarely been described and has been termed Russell body gastritis.
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. erbersdobler@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Andreas
A
Erbersdobler
Susan
S
Petri
Guntram
G
Lock
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis