Human pathology

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splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma

splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is an indolent lymphoproliferative disease accounting for approximately 1% of all lymphomas.

Clinical synopsis

- marked splenomegaly
- circulating atypical ?villous lymphocytes?

Microscopical synopsis

- nodular infiltrate based on white pulp and red pulp
- white pulp:

  • biphasic morphology: an inner zone of small lymphocytes and a peripheral (marginal) zone of larger lymphoid cells

- splenic lymph nodes and bone marrow: presence of a vaguely nodular infiltrate of similar nature.

Immunophenotype

- Tumor cells has a mature B-cell phenotype

  • IgM+
  • IgD+
  • CD5-
  • CD23-
  • CD43-
  • CD10-
  • Bcl-6- (BCL6-)
  • cyclin-D1-

Molecular biology

- Analysis of immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene variable regions suggest that some cases of SMZL arise form postfollicular B cells but others from naive B cells.

- abnormalities of a number of chromosomes

Differential diagnosis

- lymphoid hyperplasias
- other marginal zone lymphomas,
- mantle cell lymphoma
- follicular lymphoma
- B-CLL

See also

- cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma

References

- Taddesse-Heath L, Pittaluga S, Sorbara L, Bussey M, Raffeld M, Jaffe ES. Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma in children and young adults. Am J Surg Pathol. 2003 Apr;27(4):522-31. PMID: 12657939

- Dogan A, Isaacson PG. Splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2003 May;20(2):121-7. PMID: 12945935