Intravascular large B cell lymphoma in Taiwan: an Asian variant of non-germinal-center origin.
OBJECTIVE
Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. We reported the clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of 10 cases of IVLBCL from Taiwan between 1995 and 2008.


METHODS
Clinical data were reviewed and immunoperoxidase stains were performed with antibodies against CD20, CD10, Bcl-6, MUM1, and CD5.


RESULTS
There were eight males and two females with a median age of 59 years. Patients presented with dyspnea (5/10), fever (7/10), splenomegaly (5/10), and bone marrow involvement (8/10). Anemia (9/10), thrombocytopenia (6/10), and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase or ferritin levels (8/10) were also common. Nine cases were CD20+CD10(-)Bcl-6(-), similar to non-germinal center B cells. Six out of seven patients survived after chemotherapy, but three cases with thrombocytopenia that precluded chemotherapy died within 2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our cases of IVLBCL had a non-germinal center B origin and belonged to the Asian variant of this disease. The liver, spleen, and bone marrow, but rarely the skin or brain, were involved. Thrombocytopenia is a major risk factor for mortality in these cases.
Hsieh
Min-Shu
MS
Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yeh
Yi-Chen
YC
Chou
Yueh-Hung
YH
Lin
Chung-Wu
CW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor