Intravascular large B cell lymphoma diagnosed in random duodenal biopsies. A case report and a literature review

Excerpt

Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (ILBCL) is recognized by the World Health Organization as a rare subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma [1], with an incidence of less than one per million. The neoplastic lymphoid proliferation occurs primarily within small vessels, but rare cases with large vessel involvement have been reported [2, 3]. Patients are typically older, presenting in the sixth to seventh decades, and show a slight male predominance [4]. Any organ can show involvement, but the CNS, skin, kidney, lung, adrenal glands, and liver are most commonly affected. Gastrointestinal presentation is less common, but may be seen in up to 8% of cases [5]. In contrast, the most common primary gastrointestinal lymphomas are the ‘standard’ diffuse large B cell lymphoma (45–59%) and extranodal marginal zone (MALT) lymphoma, both of which demonstrate distinctly identifiable mass formation (68–75%) [6]. …