Primary thymic extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma as an incidental finding in a Caucasian woman. (3rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krogh Petersen, Jeanette; Larsen, Thomas Stauffer; Møller, Michael Boe; Stahlberg, Claudia
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-09-03
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-211469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Primary thymic extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma (TML) is an extremely rare lymphoma strongly associated with autoimmune disease. We report an exceedingly rare case of TML found in a non-Asian population. TML was found incidentally in a 60-year-old Caucasian woman with a short history of muscle and joint pain. An anterior mediastinal mass was detected by a positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) scan and thymectomy was performed. The mass was contained within the thymus with a homogeneous pale cut surface with solid areas. Histologically, the typical morphological and immunophenotypic features of TML were found, with a prominent lymphoid infiltrate comprising of small-to-medium-sized neoplastic lymphocytes, plasmacytic differentiation and a distorted thymic epithelial network. Postoperative follow-up has indicated an associated undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) with features of systemic lupus erythaematosus.