We report a case of 63-year old female who presented to breast imaging unit with multiple bilateral breast masses. Her past history was significant for left thigh mass. Mammogram and breast ultrasound revealed multiple bilateral breast masses. Ultrasound guided true-cut biopsy from right breast mass was consistent with myeloid sarcoma. Bone marrow biopsy showed acute myeloid leukemia (FAB-M5B) evolving on the background of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML).
Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are commonly encountered in patients with lymphoma. Several risk assessments models (RAM) had attempted to identify higher risk patients with varying success. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) is a clinicopathological tool developed to help predict both response to treatment and prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).In this study, we utilize the IPI index to identify group of patients with DLBCL at higher risk for VTE.Patients with pathologically-confirmed diagnosis of DLBCL and with image-confirmed VTE, treated and followed at our institution were included. Rates of VTE was calculated for each risk category.A total of 373 patients, median age 49 (range: 18-90) years were included. VTE were reported in 56 (15.0%) patients; 51 (91.1%) had active disease while 29 (51.8%) were ambulatory at time of VTE diagnosis. VTE rates were particularly high among patients with poor performance status (26.2%, P=0.028) and high LDH (19.0%, P=0.023). Applying the age-adjusted IPI separated patients into two risk categories; VTE were diagnosed in 9.7% in patients with "low and low-intermediate" scores compared to 19.8% in patients with "high and high-intermediate" scores, P=0.020.The original IPI and its modified versions, routinely used at diagnosis as a prognostic and predictive tool for patients with DLBCL, can also be utilized to define high risk patients for VTE; the risk of whom might be high enough to recommend thromboprophylaxis even in the ambulatory settings. More work is needed to refine and improve currently available RAMs.
Patterns and predictors of relapse in primary gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were variably reported. Our study aims to evaluate the patterns and predictors of relapse in early-stage gastric DLBCL treated with Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (RCHOP).From 2005 to 2019, the medical records of 72 patients with stage I or stage II gastric DLBCL treated with six cycles of RCHOP without radiotherapy were reviewed. Different variables were correlated with progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and local relapse free survival (LRFS).64 (88.1%) patients achieved a complete response (CR), while 8 (11.9%) had refractory disease. After CR, 9 (14%) patients relapsed; 7 (78%) relapses were loco-regional. Abnormal LDH (p = 0.028), H. pylori negative (p = 0.032) and, stage adjusted international prognostic index (sa-IPI) > 1 (p = 0.013) correlated with loco-regional failure. The 5-year PFS, OS, and LRFS were 74.8%, 75.3%, and 87.5%, respectively, after a median follow-up of 58 (range: 6-185) months. The median time to progression or relapse was 9 months (range: 5-54 months). In multivariate analysis, a sa-IPI >1 (HR: 3.56, CI: 1.35-8.8, p = 0.01) was associated with PFS while low albumin (HR: 8.85, CI: 1.09-71.4, p = 0.041) was associated with worse OS. None of the variables were associated with LRFS.Treatment of primary gastric DLBCL with RCHOP results in a high CR rate. The majority of treatment failures were loco-regional. Sa-IPI and H. pylori status may be used to identify patients who may benefit from combined modality treatment.