Sinonasal lymphoma presenting as a lethal midline granuloma: case report

Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral Mycosis and Extranodal Natural Killer or/and T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type

Background

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type is a syndrome of middle face destruction with an association to Epstein-Barr virus. Fungi have been recovered from the diseased tissue now and then but were often seen as a lymphoma-associated secondary infection. However, there are ENKTL-NT cases with the recoveries of fungi and complete recovery with antifungal therapy, which are quite similar to rhino-orbital-cerebral mycosis (ROCM) that often confuses the physicians.

Methods

We searched Medline for English-language manuscripts limited to “human” and “case reports,” “letters,” “reviews,” and “clinical conferences” from 1966 to 2022. We used MeSH terms “lymphoma, extranodal nk-t-cell” [MeSH Terms] or “lethal midline granuloma” [MeSH Terms], in combination with MeSH terms “microbiology” [subheading] or “microbiology” [all fields] or “fungi” [all fields] or “fungi” [MeSH Terms] for ENKTL-NT with infections. We used MeSH terms “Mycoses” in combination with “Nose” [Mesh] OR “Orbital Diseases” [Mesh] for rhino-orbital-cerebral fungal infections.

Results

We appraised 149 included articles and extracted references related to ENKTL-NT and/or ROCM. Themes and subcategories were subsequently derived. Our findings revealed that ROCM and ENKTL-NT are characterized by progressive and destructive ulcers in the midline face or rhino-orbital structures. ROCM is mainly caused by fungi in the order of Mucorales, and ENKTL-NT is usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus and sometimes fungi. Radiologically, both are characterized by non-specific features of sinusitis, soft tissue infection, and necrosis. Pathologically, ROCM and ENKTL-NT share the same characteristics of inflammation, necrosis, and granuloma. ROCM is characterized by the detection of fungi in tissue, while ENKTL-NT is typically positive for NK/T-cell markers and cytotoxic granule-associated proteins, proliferation, and vascular damage of angioinvasion, which could be incited by Mucor irregularis and Rhizopus arrhizus in patients and mice.

Conclusion

ENKTL-NT and ROCM share many similarities in clinical presentations, radiology, and histopathology, and might have the same etiology. This may explain why the two diseases are tangled together in the reported cases, and suggests the role that the fungi may play in the development of these ENKTL-NT/ROCM diseases. The reason why ENKTL-NT and ROCM are sometimes confused is that the main pathogens of ROCM, Mucor irregularis and Rhizopus arrhizus, are the fungal causative agents of ENKTL-NT.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma nasal type

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma nasal type (ENKL) is a rare neoplasm uncommon in the US. Diagnosis is complicated by low incidence and rapid tissue necrosis preventing timely histologic confirmation. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with ENKL who faced a challenging diagnostic workup due to widespread nasal tissue necrosis and nonspecific sinus-related complaints. While ENKL is significantly more common in Asia and South America, clinicians worldwide should maintain a high level of suspicion for patients presenting with nonspecific nasopharyngeal complaints who have signs of tissue necrosis. Early recognition and treatment with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve survival.

NHL - Extranodal T-cell lymphoma

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is a rare lymphoid neoplasm that in the past has been grouped with a variety of granulomatous diseases. ENKL occurs in all age groups. However, it seems to occur more often in people in their 50s and affects more men than women. It is strongly linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), especially in people of Asian countries. Because this type of lymphoma occurs in organs or tissues other than lymph nodes, it is called ENKL. This is a case report of a 25-year-old female patient who presented with a nonhealing ulcer at the right nasal ala involving the upper lip and cheek for the last 2 months, which had been treated with antitubercular treatment without success. After biopsy and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, the patient had been diagnosed a case of extranodal T-cell lymphoma.

Mucor irregularis infection and lethal midline granuloma: a case report and review of published literature

Mucor irregularis (Rhizomucor variabilis) infection and lethal midline granuloma (LMG) are characterized by progressive swelling, ulceration, and destruction of the central face that is usually fatal. Pathological features are inflammation, necrosis, and granulation. LMG has been called by various names, and in recent years, it has been known as NK/T cell lymphoma. However, diagnosis still relies on the progressive necrosis course rather than malignancy in histology. The disease has long challenged physicians, particularly when it worsens with radiotherapy or chemotherapy but sometimes achieves total remission without anti-malignancy therapies. We describe a 35-year-old man who had typical clinical-pathological symptoms of LMG, which turned out to be primary M. irregularis infection; that was diagnosed by positive tissue culture and fungal elements in histology. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B, total 4,600 mg and amphotericin B total 277 mg, over a duration of 70 days). We hereby review current knowledge about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, radiographic characteristics, and pathologic features of LMG with those of M. irregularis infection and their associations. We conclude that primary M. irregulars infection can mimic the clinico-pathological symptoms of LMG and the condition responds favorably to aggressive antifungal therapy.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (angiocentric T-cell lymphoma): A review about the terminology

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is a rare lymphoid neoplasm, which in the past has been grouped with a variety of granulomatous diseases. It is an aggressive non-Hodgkin’s type characterized clinically by aggressive, nonrelenting destruction of the midline structures of the palate and nasal fossa. Despite the malignant clinical course, histological diagnosis can be difficult because of extensive tissue necrosis and multiple biopsies that are often required and has an ominous prognosis, as the average survival rate is between 6 and 25 months as reported with a large number of Asian studies. Several American and European studies have shown similar results. This is the case report of a 60-year-old male patient who presented with nasal obstruction and foul smelling, ulcerative lesion over the palate of 6 months duration, which had been treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories without success. After performing a number of diagnostic tests, it was found histologically and confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis that the patient had an ENKL, nasal type (also known as angiocentric T-cell lymphoma).

Angiocentric T-cell lymphoma presenting as midface destructive lesion: case report and literature review

A case of angiocentric T-cell lymphoma presenting as a midface destructive lesion is reported. Angiocentric T-cell lymphoma typically manifests as an aggressive, progressively destructive, and necrotizing disorder, often with a fatal outcome. This case was characterized microscopically by the presence of an atypical lymphoid population that expressed a CD45+, CD3+ cytoplasmic, CD5+, and CD56- T-cell phenotype within a background of a polymorphous inflammatory infiltrate. Because of the rarity of the disorder, the differential diagnosis is discussed. Recent advances in clinical immunodiagnostics, the variations in therapeutic modalities, and the prognosis of the disease as reported in the recent literature are reviewed.

Lethal Midline Granuloma Starting as Granuloma Laryngis

We report a case of lethal midline granuloma in a 34-year-old male patient. The patient was referred to our hospital because of long-lasting hoarseness. He was treated for granuloma laryngis. After two years nasal obstruction developed followed by ulceration of the hard palate and destruction of part of the nose and the upper lip. A biopsy demonstrated polymorphic infiltrate consisting of small lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, atypical lymphoid cells and eosinophils. Radiotherapy was very effective and led to long-term remission. The different etiological aspects of this syndrome are discussed.