Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma overview
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Differentiating Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma from other Diseases |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mohsin, M.D.[2]
Overview
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL, previously termed lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma) is an uncommon mature B cell lymphoma usually involving the bone marrow and, less commonly, the spleen and/or lymph nodes.The term "macroglobulinemia" refers to the production of excess IgM monoclonal protein that occurs in certain clonal lymphoproliferative disorders and plasma cell dyscrasias. This broad definition includes patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance of the IgM type (IgM MGUS), smoldering Waldenström macroglobulinemia, Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), and a number of related disorders in which an IgM monoclonal protein is detected, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a number of lymphoma variants, and primary (AL) amyloidosis. According to new 2016 WHO classification, when hyperviscosity occurs in LPL patients due to excess IgM paraprotein, it is termed as Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). Hence, now WM is considered as a rare distinct subtype/clinicopathologic entity demonstrating lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), with symptoms associated with presence of a serum IgM paraprotein due to infiltration of the hematopoietic tissues and the effects of monoclonal IgM in the blood. Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a type of lymphoproliferative disease involving lymphocytes with IgM as the main attributing antibody and shares clinical characteristics with the indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Waldenström's macroglobulinemia was first discovered by Jan G. Waldenström and represents 1% of all hematological cancers. Common causes of LPL include genetic, environmental, and autoimmune factors. While common risk factors include monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, age >50 year old, white ethnicity, heredity, hepatitis C, and immune disorders. Genes involved in the pathogenesis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma include: MYD88-L265P, CXCR4 and chromosomes 6q, 13q, 3q, 6p and 18q. The hallmark of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is hyper-viscosity syndrome. If left untreated, patients with asymptomatic Waldenström's macroglobulinemia may progress to develop a symptomatic disease. Common complications of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia include: hyperviscosity syndrome, cold haemagglutinin disease, cryoglobulinemia, peripheral neuropathy, venous thromboembolism, primary amyloidosis, malabsorptive diarrhea, and bleeding manifestations. Less common but more severe complications include Schnitzler syndrome, Richter syndrome, and Bing-Neel syndrome. Prognosis varies depending on the multiple factors involved. Five year survival rate is 87% for low-risk disease and 36% for high-risk disease. Signs and symptoms of patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma depend on the degree of tissue infiltration by malignant tumor cells, hyperviscosity syndrome, and accumulation of paraprotein. The diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is based on bone marrow biopsy and serum protein analysis. Risk stratification determines the protocol of management used for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma patients. Watchful waiting is recommended for asymptomatic Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Symptomatic Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is treated with Rituximab +/- Chemotherapy. Ibrutinib with or without concurrent rituximab, is considered as a drug of choice for treatment of Bing-Neel syndrome.
Historical Perspective
Waldenström macroglobulinemia was first discovered by Jan G. Waldenström, a Swedish physician in 1944. Bing-Neel syndrome, a late and rare complication of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, was first discovered in 1936 by Jens Bing and Axel Valdemar Neel. First report on familial aggregation of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia was published in 1962. In 1944, Revised European-American classification of lymphoid neoplasms (REAL) and WHO in 2001, placed Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia in the category of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. A diagnostic criteria for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia was proposed by a consensus group at the Second International Workshop in Athens, Greece in 2002. A report published in 2013 showed that a patient of Bing-Neel syndrome who discontinued the treatment in 2009 remained asymptomatic.
Classification
There is no established system for the classification of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. However, according to a devised criteria based upon patient's symptoms, Waldenström's macroglobulinemia can be further classified into smoldering/asymptomatic and symptomatic WM.
Pathophysiology
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is an uncontrolled clonal proliferation of terminally differentiated B lymphocytes, which are normally involved in humoral immunity. Two main factors mediating this disease include IgM paraprotein secretion and tissue infiltration with neoplastic lymphoplasmacytic cells. Genes involved in the pathogenesis of LPL include MYD88-L265P, and CXCR4 along with various other cytogenetic and epigenetic abnormalities. In patients of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, there is an increased incidence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome (acute myeloid leukemia), brain tumor, and renal MALT lymphoma. Two histologic subtypes include lymphoplasmacytoid and lymphoplasmacytic which invade the lymphoid organs such as spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. Bone marrow is infiltrated by small lymphocytes, well-formed plasma cells, and plasmacytoid lymphocytes in diffuse, interstitial, nodular, paratrabecular, nodular-interstitial and mixed paratrabecular-nodular patterns. Lymph nodes infiltration shows Dutcher and Russell bodies, mast cells, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Peripheral smear shows circulating malignant cells with a plasmacytoid appearance, having basophilic cytoplasm, perinuclear halo, and nucleus with "clock-face" chromatin without nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry shows pan B-cell surface antigens such as Ig+CD19+, CD20+, CD22+, CD79A+ and variable expression of some other antigens.
Causes
The exact cause of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma has not been identified; however, the disease has been highly-associated with somatic mutations in MYD88 and CXR4 genes. In addition, less possible common cause of the disease includes chromosomal abnormalities.
Differentiating Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma from Other Diseases
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma must be differentiated from multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, b-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and marginal zone lymphoma.
Epidemiology and Demographics
The prevalence of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is estimated to be 1000-1500 cases in United States annually. Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma represents 1-2% of all hematological cancers. Overall age-adjusted incidence of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is 0.38 cases per 100,000 persons annually, increasing with age to 2.85 in patients above 80 years. Incidence of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma increases after 50 years of age with median age at diagnosis to be 65 years. Men are twice more likely than women to develop LPL and there is higher incidence of LPL in whites than blacks.
Risk Factors
Common risk factors for the development of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma are monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, inherited immune disorders,heredity, hepatitis C and other autoimmune disorders, age >50 years, male gender, white race, allergic conditions like hay fever, multiple environmental factors, Human T-lymphotropic virus type I or Epstein-Barr virus, history of Helicobacter pylori infection, history of immunosuppressant drug therapy after an organ transplant, diet rich in meat and fat and history of past treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Screening
According to the the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
If left untreated, patients with asymptomatic disease may progress to develop fatigue, weight loss, peripheral neuropathy, shortness of breath, purpura, raynaud's phenomenon, and vision problems. Common complications of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma include: hyperviscosity syndrome, cold haemagglutinin disease, cryoglobulinemia, peripheral neuropathy, primary amyloidosis, renal insufficiency, malabsorptive diarrhea, visual abnormalities, congestive heart failure, and schnitzler syndrome. Late and rare severe complications include richter syndrome, and bing-Neel syndrome. Prognosis varies depending on the various factors involved. Five year survival rate is 87% for low-risk disease and 36% for high-risk disease. A standardized scoring system known as the International PrognosticStaging System for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (IPSSWM) risk stratifies the patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
Diagnostic Study of Choice
The diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is based on bone marrow aspiration and biopsy and serum protein analysis studies such as immunohistochemistry,flow cytometry and cytogenetics to distinguish LPL from other types of B-cell lymphomas. CSF flow cytometry, protein electrophoresis and immunofixation is donefor the diagnosis of Bing-Neel syndrome (a late, but severe, rare complication).
History and Symptoms
Many patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma are asymptomatic. The disease is subtle and symptoms are nonspecific and are caused by tumor infiltration, circulating monoclonal IgM, IgM deposition into tissues, amyloidogenic properties of IgM, and autoantibody activity of IgM. The most common symptoms of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma include weakness, anorexia, unexplained weight loss, fever, heavy sweating, blurry vision, peripheral neuropathy, and abdominal pain. Less common symptoms of the disease include enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal distension, headache, painless lumps, raynaud phenomenon, altered mental status, mucosal bleeding, vision problems, kidney issues, heart problems, infections, GIT problems, and other symptoms due to cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, hyperviscosity syndrome, and bing-neel syndrome.
Physical Examination
Patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma usually appear oriented to time, place, and person. Physical examination of patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphomais usually remarkable for various findings depending on the degree of tissue infiltration by malignant tumor cells, hyperviscosity syndrome, and accumulation of paraprotein. Common physical exam findings include maculopapular lesions, purpura, petechiae, raynaud's phenomenon, skin ulcers, skin necrosis, cold urticaria, macroglobulinemia cutis, pallor, papilledema, retinopathy, lymphadenopathy, jugular venous distension, pleural effusion, lung rales, pulmonary infiltrates, displaced apical impulse, S3 gallop, hepatosplenomegaly causing abdominal distension, peripheral edema due to congestive heart failure, and distal, symmetric, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma include any cytopenia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, elevated levels of LDH, Beta-2 microglobulin, uric acid, and urea & creatinine, elevated ESR, hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, positive rheumatoid factor, positive cryoglobulins, positive direct antiglobulin test, positive cold agglutinin titre, proteinuria, prolonged bleeding time, prolonged prothrombin time, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, prolonged thrombin time and peripheral smear shows plasmacytoid lymphocytes, normocytic normochromic red blood cells and rouleaux formation.
Electrocardiogram
There are no ECG findings associated with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
Chest X-ray
On chest x-ray, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma may be characterized by enlarged lymph nodes, pulmonary infiltrates, nodules, effusion, and cardiomegaly due to congestive heart failure.
Echocardiography and Ultrasound
There are no specific echocardiography and ultrasound findings associated with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. However, ultrasound can be used to look at enlarged spleen, liver, kidneys, lymph nodes and to help guide a biopsy needle into an enlarged lymph node.
CT scan
In lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, CT scan imaging of chest, abdomen, and pelvis may show evidences of lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly. CT of the lungs or abdomen can also be diagnostic for infection, which is particularly relevant to immunocompromised patients.
MRI
There are no specific MRI findings associated with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. However, MRI of the brain, spinal cord and orbits is especially important while assessing hyperviscosity and for diagnosing Bing-Neel syndrome.
Other Imaging Findings
A PET scan can be helpful in spotting small collections of cancer cells, to detect whether an enlarged lymph node has lymphoma or not, to see the response of treatment, and to help decide whether an enlarged lymph node still contains lymphoma or is merely scar tissue after treatment.
Other Diagnostic Studies
Other diagnostic studies for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma include nerve conduction study, electromyography, funduscopy, plasma viscosity, and mutational analysis.
Medical Therapy
Risk stratification determines the protocol of management used for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. There is no treatment for asymptomatic lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The mainstay of treatment for symptomatic lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is Rituximab +/- Chemotherapy. Hyperviscosity syndrome is a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment with plasmapheresis. Drug of choice for the treatment of bing-neel syndrome is Ibrutinib with or without concurrent rituximab. Other treatment options include targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is not the first-line treatment option for patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Stem cell transplant is usually reserved for patients with either relapseor refractory lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. In very rare cases, laparotomy or laparoscopy might be required.
Primary Prevention
Primary prevention of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma depends on avoiding the type of modifiable risk factor causing the disease such as hepatitis C, HIV, rickettsiosis, hay fever, human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection, epstein-Barr virus infection, environmental factors, history of helicobacter pylori infection, history of immunosuppressant drug therapy after an organ transplant, diet rich in meat and fat and history of past treatment for hodgkin lymphoma.
Secondary Prevention
There are no established measures for the secondary prevention of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.