Cerebral Localized Marginal Zone Lymphoma Presenting as Hypothalamic-Pituitary Region Disorder

Abstract

Introduction

Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is a rare disease which can be considerably difficult to recognize and diagnose when signs of systemic involvement are absent.

Case Presentation

We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with initial olfactory disturbance, followed by psychosis, diabetes insipidus and hypothalamic eating disorder as an uncommon clinical presentation of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma.

Conclusion

Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis in patients with hypothalamic disturbances.

Introduction

Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBCL) is a rare disease which can be considerably difficult to recognize and diagnose when signs of systemic involvement are absent. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) refers to lymphoid tissue located within the epithelial layer of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urogenital tracts, and their associated connective tissue [1]. The disease may disseminate within the MALT (diffuse involvement of a single MALT site or multiple mucosal localizations) or may spread outside the MALT (lymph node and bone marrow involvement) as a result of the loss of mucosal homing properties [2, 3]. When localized within the respiratory tract, the lymphoma is referred to as bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma [1].

MZBCL accounts for 5-17% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas in adults, depending on the series. MALT lymphoma is the most frequent of the MZBCL subtypes, accounting for 50-70% of MZBCL and 7-8% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Splenic and nodal MZBCL represent 20 and 10% of MZBCL, respectively, and account for less than 1% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas [4]. Those lymphomas are described as indolent disorders that typically affect patients of middle and advanced age, predominantly women [2, 4, 5, 6, 7].

However, the classification of the disseminated stage in nongastric MALT lymphomas remains a controversial issue: in the Lyon series, 52% of patients were reported to have an advanced lymphoma and 25% showed bone marrow involvement [2], whereas in the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group study, the percentages were considerably lower (27 and 14%, respectively) [3].

Case Report

A 57-year-old woman presented at our outpatient department in March 2008 with olfactory hallucinations, recurrent diplopia, frontal cephalea, short-term memory dysfunction, lack of appetite and a weight loss of 14 kg since September 2007. Her medical history included hypothyreosis. Neurological investigations additionally revealed a left-sided ptosis. Cranial gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans showed normal findings, and laboratory test results were within the normal range.

In June 2008, the patient presented with persisting symptoms and new onset depression. Laboratory tests, including a vasculitis screening, did not show pathological findings, except for the diagnosis of secondary hypothyreosis. A repeated cranial gadolinium-enhanced MRI (3T Philips Archieva MRI using NV16 coil) scan revealed an edema localized in the hypothalamic region and extending into the mesencephalon and the anterior commissure up to the mammillary bodies, with a slightly hypointense signal on unenhanced T1 sequences. A conglomerated ring enhancement in an area of about 14 × 8 × 10 mm was found. Single voxel proton MRI spectroscopy (TE144 and TE35) revealed a depressed N-acetyl aspartate peak and an elevated choline peak. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed mild pleocytosis (8 cells/μl) and a normal angiotensin-converting enzyme level. Flow cytometric cerebrospinal fluid analyses were normal. A cranial F18 FDG PET/CT scan showed a highly increased metabolism within the lesion (table 1). A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the brain was performed, which revealed only nonspecific inflammation. The patient received antidepressants (SSRI) and L-thyroxine for hypothyreosis.

Table 1.

Clinical course of a 57-year-old female with an uncommon clinical presentation of a primary cerebral MZBCL consisting of initial olfactory disorder, followed by an organic psychosyndrome, diabetes insipidus as well as a hypothalamic eating disorder

	June 2008	May 2009
Laboratory findings	normal white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelets, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, liver parameters, ELISA for HIV, C-reactive protein	normal white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelets, creatinine, electrolytes, glucose, liver parameters, ELISA for HIV, C-reactive protein
Tumor markers	normal CEA, AFP, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, CA125	–
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis	normal protein and glucose levels, lactate mild pleocytosis 8 cells/μl	–
Virology of cerebrospinal fluid and laboratory findings	normal, negative results for early summer meningoencephalitis, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalic virus, toxoplasmosis, Borrelia burgdorferi, HIV	–
Flow cytometric cerebrospinal fluid analysis	no findings indicating sarcoidosis or lymphoma	–
Listeria monocytogenes PCR	negative	–
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate	20 mm	58 mm
Fungal and tuberculosis culture	negative	–
Chest X-ray	normal	normal
Angiotensin-1-converting enzyme	58.70 U/ml	77.90 U/ml
Urinanalysis	normal	normal
Abdominal sonography	no signs of lymphadenopathy	–
Vasculitis screening tests	normal antinuclear antibodies, c-ANCA, p-ANCA, C3, C4	–
Thyroid hormones	TSH: 0.11 U/ml, T3: 3.75 U/ml, T4: 0.83 U/ml	TSH: <0.01 U/ml, T3: 1.35 U/ml, T4: 4.30 U/ml
Hypothalamic hormones	normal ACTH, HGH, ADH, IGF-1, cortisol, LH, FSH, prolactin	normal ACTH, HGH, ADH (<5 pg/ml), IGF-1, cortisol, LH, FSH, prolactin
Borrelia burgdorferi test	normal in cerebrospinal fluid analysis and serum	–
Thyroid sonography	inhomogeneous echo pattern, consistent with a secondary hypothyreosis	–
EEG	normal	normal
Transthoracic echocardiography	normal	normal
Cranial CT scan	no bone lesions	–
Gadolinium-enhanced cerebral MRI scan	edema localized in the hypothalamus reaching up to the mesencephalon and commissura anterior to the corpora mammillaria, with intense granular phenotypic changes	no alteration of the hypothalamic lesion, no significant edema
MRI spectroscopy	depressed NAA peak and higher choline peak	–
Cranial PET/CT examination	spotted focal hypermetabolism, indicating that the lesion has higher malignant parts	–
Carotid and vertebral sonography	mild atherosclerosis	mild atherosclerosis
Cerebral fine needle aspiration biopsy histology	unspecific inflammation attributable to high infiltration with microglia and macrophages; no evidence of lymphoma or sarcoidosis	–
Thoracic CT scan	–	mediastinal lymph nodes, peribronchial condensations, changes indicating sarcoidosis
Liver sonography	–	hepatopathy
Bronchoalveolar lavage	–	BALT lymphoma (monomorphic lymphoid cells)
Follow-Up Investigations after Diagnosis of BALT Lymphoma
Bone marrow puncture, June 2009	normal	–
Iliac lymph node biopsy, July 2009	BALT lymphoma	–
Abdominal CT scan, June 2009	–	intra-abdominal pathological lymph nodes
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, July 2009	normal mild pleocytosis 8 cells/μl	–
Restaging CT scan, September 2009	normal, no lymph nodes	–
Bronchoalveolar lavage, October 2009	normal	–
Cerebral MRI scan with gadolinium	normal	–

ELISA = Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone; PCR = polymerase chain reaction; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; c-ANCA = anticytoplasmic antibodies; p-ANCA = antiperinuclear antibodies; ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; HGH = human growth hormone; ADH = antidiuretic hormone; LH = luteinizing hormone; FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; CEA = carcinoembryonic antigen; AFP = α-fetoprotein; CA 19-9 = carbohydrate antigen 19-9; CA 15-3 = cancer antigen 15-3; CA 125 = cancer antigen 125.

Since September 2008, our patient had developed polydipsia (10 l/day) as well as an eating disorder (polyphagia) with consecutive weight gain. Treatment with desmopressin acetate and dimethicone was initiated by her physician.

In May 2009, the patient presented with distinctive disorientation, optical hallucinations, illusions and compulsive buying behavior. Repeated MRI showed unchanged results, except for a decrease of the collateral edema (fig. 1). Treatment for secondary partial adrenal cortex insufficiency with desmopressin acetate, L-thyroxine and dimethicone was continued, and an adjunctive therapy with hydrocortisone and risperidone was introduced. Laboratory tests showed elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme levels (77.90 U/ml). A thoracic CT scan revealed mediastinal lymph nodes and peribronchial condensations – suggestive of sarcoidosis. A bronchoalveolar lavage revealed a BALT lymphoma (extranodal marginal zone lymphoma) (fig. 1). Bone marrow puncture was performed to confirm the diagnosis and showed unremarkable findings. An abdominal CT scan revealed intra-abdominal pathological lymph nodes. Iliac lymph node biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of MZBCL (see table 1).

Fig. 1.

a-d Histological slides from the biopsy were routinely stained with HE and Giemsa stain. Under the bronchial epithelium, a dense lymphatic infiltrate of small indistinct, round lymphocytes interspersed with some monocytoid lymphocytes was seen (cf. a). The Ki-67 proliferation was found to be low (not shown). Subsequent immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of lung tissue for CD20 (cf. b) was strongly positive. IHC staining for CD23 in lymph node material was positive only for residual follicle centers showing faint staining (cf. c). The expression of CD43 in lymph node tissue displayed strong expression in neoplastic cells (cf. d). Further IHC staining excluded small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. a Lung: histological overview, bronchial epithelium to the left. b Lung: CD20 IHC staining. c Lymph node: CD23 IHC staining. d Lymph node: CD43 IHC staining. e Flair sequence with hyperintense edema in the hypothalamic area reaching into the mesencephalon. f Contrast-enhanced T1 TSE sequence shows a conglomerate ring-enhancing lesion and enhancement of the oculomotor nerves. g No contrast enhancement in the T1 TSE sequence after cladribine therapy. h Cranial F18 FDG PET/CT scan shows spotted focal hypermetabolism.

MZBCL, with an associated hypothalamic lesion, was diagnosed. As a result, she was started on 3 cycles of cladribine therapy (0.12 mg/kg).

The patient showed an improvement during the follow-up examinations over a period of 4 months; however, severe psychological deficits and a secondary partial adrenal cortex insufficiency persisted. The psychological deficits included short-term memory disturbances, slight optical hallucinations, depression and a remarkable reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychological symptoms remained stable under medical treatment with risperidone and antidepressants (SSRI).

Restaging thoracic and abdominal CT scans in September 2009 showed no pathological findings. Bronchoalveolar lavage from October 2009 revealed normal results. In the cerebral MRI scans (performed 2 months after cladribine therapy), the enhancing lesions had disappeared.

Discussion

We present the first case of MZBCL with hypothalamic-pituitary region disorder, olfactory disorder and psychosis. Previously, intracranial MZBCL was occasionally referred to as dural lymphoma [8].

In addition to the occurrence in the lungs, primary tumor manifestation of MZBCL is often localized in the stomach, the parotid glands and the lachrymal glands [1]. Typically, middle-aged women are affected [8]. MZBCL has been reported to be induced by pathologic conditions such as chronic or recurrent respiratory infections, smoking and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis [9]. Lesions within the hypothalamic-pituitary region are often associated with neurological symptoms, secondary mass effect, hormonal excess and/or deficiencies or might also be an isolated radiographic finding [10].

In our patient, the fine needle aspiration biopsy of the brain was not conclusive in making the diagnosis of lymphoma, although the biopsy samples were retrieved from the affected brain regions. Biopsy results only revealed an unspecific inflammation, which may have been attributable to a high infiltration of microglia and macrophages.

It has been previously described that needle aspiration biopsy of the brain might show misleading results in the diagnosis of cerebral lymphoma [11]. One study analyzed fine needle aspiration biopsy results in 494 patients, and revealed that the overall accuracy rate of fine needle aspiration cytology, whether malignant or benign, was 91.89%, whilst the diagnostic accuracy for the exact type of tumor was 87.16%. Furthermore, 12.6% of the fine needle aspiration specimens proved to be inadequate for diagnosis [12].

Differential diagnosis of cerebral lymphoma often includes sarcoidosis, cerebral malignancies, angiitis and granulomatous disease [1]. According to the literature, cladribine has been proven to be effective as a first-line treatment for MZBCL [9, 13, 14].

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary region disorder, olfactory disorder and psychosis, MZBCL should be considered as a rare but crucial differential diagnosis.