A 55-year-old man felt a lump near his shoulder 1 week ago. On physical examination, there is an enlarged, nontender, supraclavicular lymph node and enlargement of the Waldeyer ring of oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue. There is no hepato- splenomegaly. CBC is normal except for findings of mild anemia. A lymph node biopsy specimen shows replacement by a monomorphous population of lymphoid cells that are twice the size of normal lymphocytes, with enlarged nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry of the node indicates that most lymphoid cells are CD19+, CD10+, CD3-, CD15-, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase negative (TdT-). A BCL6 gene mutation is present. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A 55-year-old man felt a lump near his shoulder 1 week ago. On physical examination, there is an enlarged, nontender, supraclavicular lymph node and enlargement of the Waldeyer ring of oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue. There is no hepato- splenomegaly. CBC is normal except for findings of mild anemia. A lymph node biopsy specimen shows replacement by a monomorphous population of lymphoid cells that are twice the size of normal lymphocytes, with enlarged nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry of the node indicates that most lymphoid cells are CD19+, CD10+, CD3-, CD15-, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase negative (TdT-). A BCL6 gene mutation is present. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
π‘ Explanation
## Core Concept
The question presents a clinical scenario suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder, specifically focusing on the characteristics of the lymphoid cells and genetic mutations found. The key details include the presence of an enlarged supraclavicular lymph node, involvement of the Waldeyer ring, a monomorphous population of large lymphoid cells with specific immunohistochemical markers (CD19+, CD10+, CD3-, CD15-, TdT-), and a BCL6 gene mutation. These findings are indicative of a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
## Why the Correct Answer is Right
The description provided points towards a diagnosis of **Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)**. DLBCL is characterized by the proliferation of large B cells that are typically CD19+, CD10+ (in some cases), and CD3- (as they are of B-cell origin). The absence of TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase) expression suggests a mature B-cell phenotype. The BCL6 gene mutation is commonly found in DLBCL, as BCL6 is a transcription factor crucial for germinal center formation and B-cell development. The clinical presentation, including the involvement of the supraclavicular lymph node and Waldeyer ring without hepatosplenomegaly, and the specific immunophenotypic and genetic features, supports this diagnosis.
## Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect
- **Option A:** Without specific details on the options provided, we can infer based on common differentials for lymphomas. For instance, if one option was **Burkitt Lymphoma**, it would be incorrect because, despite the presence of a BCL6 mutation and B-cell markers, Burkitt lymphoma typically shows a very high proliferation rate, is often CD10+, but usually lacks the BCL2 mutation commonly seen in DLBCL and has a distinct clinical presentation.
- **Option B:** If another option was **Follicular Lymphoma**, it would be incorrect because, although it shares some immunophenotypic features with DLBCL (like CD10+ and BCL6+), it usually presents with a nodular pattern on histology and often has a BCL2 mutation rather than a BCL6 mutation alone.
- **Option C:** If an option was **T-cell Lymphoma**, it would be incorrect given the specific B-cell markers (CD19+, CD10+, CD3-) mentioned.
## Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact
A key point to remember is that **DLBCL** is an aggressive NHL that requires prompt treatment. The presence of **CD10** and **BCL6** positivity, along with clinical features like lymphadenopathy and systemic symptoms, should raise suspicion for DLBCL. The **Hans algorithm** and **cell-of-origin (COO) classification** based on gene expression profiling can further help in subclassifying DLBCL into germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtypes, which have different prognostic implications.
**Correct Answer: D. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.**
β Correct Answer: C. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
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