Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL), previously known as lethal midline granuloma is a distinct clinico-pathological entity associated with Epstein-Barr virus that typically causes destruction of the midface, palatal and orbital walls. In addition, ENKTCL can involve the skin, soft tissue, testes, gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract. ENKTCL neoplastic cells express some T-cell associated antigens, most commonly CD2 and cytoplasmic CD3epsilon and, in favour of an NK-cell origin, CD56. Early stage disease may respond to radiotherapy alone, however late stage disease does not respond well to any available therapies. Overall, patients with ENKTCL have a cumulative probability of survival at 5 years ranging from 37.9% to 45.3%.

Midline lethal granuloma complicating pregnancy: case report

A case of midline lethal granuloma in a 28-year- old female Nigerian patient is reported. Oral, ocular and nasal lesions were present and these preceded a spontaneous abortion of a three month old pregnancy. The clinical course of the disease and its similarity to other granulomatous diseases, which are generally classified as midline granuloma syndrome, are highlighted. The prognosis is poor but early diagnosis and treatment appears to improve a patient's condition

Idiopathic midline destructive disease: fact or fiction

The differential diagnosis of a progressive destructive lesion of the midface and upper airway region includes both neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities; of these, the majority of cases prove to be either Wegener's granulomatosis or lymphoma. Historically, these sorts of necrotizing midfacial lesions were diagnosed clinically, and as a consequence a variety of overlapping categories of disease sprang up. As pathologic examination of biopsy material became both more widespread and (particularly in the last several years) more sophisticated, many lesions previously thought to be of mysterious origins have proven to be examples of lymphoma (in particular, sinonasal natural killer cell or T cell [NK/T] lymphomas). At present, the evaluation of a patient with a progressive destructive process involving the midface region should include imaging studies (to delineate the extent of disease) as well as biopsy (with sampling of lesional tissue for application of sophisticated testing--including immunohistochemical studies, flow cytometry, or molecular studies as necessary--to exclude the possibility of a NK/T cell lymphoma). There remain occasional patients whose necrotizing midfacial lesions continue to be difficult to classify despite the application of extensive testing; such patients are sometimes described as suffering from the nebulous entity of "idiopathic midline destructive disease". While it remains to be seen whether such patients will ultimately be assigned to other diagnostic groups (as, for example, occult toxic injuries--as in the case of cocaine abusers who are not forthcoming with regard to their drug usage), it seems likely that "idiopathic midline destructive disease" is a diagnostic term of questionable validity which should be used only with extreme reticence in modern practice.

[Lethal midline granuloma]

Lethal midline granuloma is a rare clinical syndrome. In clinical practice the destructive process of the facial midline may appear as a symptom of various infective, malignant or autoimmune diseases. A physician must have a good knowledge of the problem in order to make a rational approach to diagnosis. The present paper discusses the case of a 34-year old patient with destructive changes of midline, nose, perforating of palatal cleft and destruction of bone structure of nose, maxillary and ethmoid sinus. For histopathologic diagnosis of T-lymphoma it was necessary to make immunohistological study of the biopsy specimen. Irradiation therapy with total dose of 5600 cGy showed an extremely good therapeutic result. Three years after irradiation therapy the patient is still in a remission.

Centrofacial malignant T-cell lymphoma exhibiting recurrent fever and skin ulcer in a 3-year-old girl

A rare case of undetermined fever and skin ulcers is reported. The patient had an 8-month history of recurrent fever, destructive ulceration of the midline facial tissue, and symmetrical skin ulcer in the cheeks and the back of the hand. Pathological examination revealed that the patient had lethal midline granuloma (centrofacial malignant T-cell lymphoma), which is very rare in childhood. Centrofacial malignant T-cell lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of unexplained fever and skin ulcer in children.

Lethal midline granuloma: report of three cases

Lethal midline granuloma (LMG) is a rare clinical entity characterized by progressive relentless ulcerations and necrosis of midfacial structures. It occurs more frequently in Oriental than in Western populations with no demonstrable etiology. Treatment and outcome for cases differ, but their pathological distinction may not always be possible from routine biopsy specimens. The histological features often seen include widespread coagulative necrosis, heavy inflammatory infiltrates, and atypical pleomorphic cells. However, the paucity of these atypical cells in biopsy specimens and the degree of necrosis can make the diagnosis of a neoplastic lesion very difficult. Because of the progress in pathology methodology including immunohistochemistry, most cases have been proven to be malignant lymphomas of T-cell lineage. We present 3 patients for whom an initial clinical diagnosis of LMG was made. From their several oral biopsies and nasal specimens, difficulties were encountered in differentiating "midline granuloma" from other possible diseases using histomorphological criteria alone. After extensive evaluations, malignant T-cell lymphoma was the specific disease entity identified in only one case by cell membrane immunostaining technique. A literature review was carried out, and recent concepts of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are presented.

Natural killer cell lymphoma/leukemia: pathology and treatment

Malignancies arising from cells of putative natural killer (NK) cell origin have increasingly been recognized as distinct clinicopathological entities. These malignancies are marked by tumour cells with NK cell characteristics, including the immunophenotype of CD2+, surface CD3-, cytoplasmic CD3 epsilon+, CD7 +/-, and CD56+, and the genotype of germline T cell receptor gene. A consistent association with monoclonal Epstein-Barr virus infection in the tumour cell has been observed. These tumours are now regarded as putative NK cell lymphoma/leukemia. Pathologically, tumour cells show variable cytological appearances, with frequent angiocentricity and angioinvasion, associated with zonal necrosis. Clinically, most cases occur in the nasal area and upper aerodigestive tract. However, occurrence in non-nasal sites such as the skin, gastrointestinal tract and testis is also observed. A particularly aggressive form of NK lymphoma/leukemia presents fulminantly as disseminated disease sometimes with a leukemic phase. All types of NK lymphoma/leukemia have an extremely poor prognosis with a median survival of less than a year. New modalities of treatment, including the use of high dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue may be needed to improve treatment outcome.

Midline granuloma presenting as orbital cellulitis

BACKGROUND

Lethal midline granuloma usually presents with rhinorrhoea and redness of the skin above the nose. Early ocular symptoms are very rare. We here describe a patient who presented with acute orbital cellulitis.

PATIENT

A 73-year-old woman had a 24-h history of severe pain around her left eye. We saw the typical clinical picture of orbital cellulitis. A CT scan revealed a diffuse infiltration of the left upper and lower lid, the anterior orbit and the ethmoidal sinuses.

RESULT

On surgical exploration we found a granular, partly necrotic tumour. Histological examination revealed an angiocentric nasal T-cell lymphoma (midline granuloma).

CONCLUSION

Midline granuloma should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute orbital cellulitis.

[Cases of lethal midline granuloma (polymorphic reticulosis) at our department in a recent 10-year period]

We had 18 patients (15 males and 3 females) with lethal midline granuloma (polymorphic reticulosis) in the period from 1981 to 1990. This number was about 5.6% of the total number of patients with malignant head and neck tumors that we encountered during this period. An average of 9.1 months separated the first appearance of disease and the beginning of treatment. Most of the 18 patients underwent both radiation therapy and chemotherapy (COP, CHOP, MACOP-B), but, since their disease had reached an advanced stage, 3 underwent radiation therapy only, 3 underwent chemotherapy only, and 1 received no radical therapy at all. Of the 18 patients, 13 died of the disease. In of 6 of these, the disease was confined to the local lesion. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 15.7% (Kaplan-Meier). Fourteen autopsy studies revealed that tumor cells had invaded the liver (92.8%), lung (92.8%) and spleen (71.4%) and in all cases it was in leukemic patterns. Fifteen cases were studied for tumor surface marker phenotype, but none was found to be positive for L26, CD43, Leu M1 (CD15), or MAC 387. Five cases were positive for UCHL-1 (CD45RO) and 10 cases were positive for lysozyme. All cases were positive for Ki-1 (CD30).

[Midline granuloma. A clinical case report]

Granuloma gangraenescens or "midline granuloma" (Stewart's malignant granuloma, idiopathic midline destructive syndrome) is a rare clinical syndrome. In clinical practice, the destructive process of the facial midline may appear as a symptom of various infective, malignant or autoimmune diseases. In addition to these cases, a number of cases have been reported in the literature since 1896 with the diagnosis of lethal midline granuloma. These subjects underwent a progressive and often fatal destructive process of unknown cause which generally initiated in a nasal cavity (or sometimes on the palate) in the form of a granulomatous lesion with a rapid tendency to necrosis. The lesion affects the nose, paranasal sinuses, palate and soft facial tissue. As it progresses, it involves soft tissue, cartilage and the bone structures of the aforesaid and adjacent areas. A number of systemic symptoms may be present. The age of patients ranges from a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 59 years old. Repeated biopsies are usually necessary before the syndrome is diagnosed. From a histological point of view, it has been reported that the tissues in the nasal cavities are affected by diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes and leukocytes and histiocytic-type cells. The disease lasts between 3 and 20 months and causes death due to secondary infection, hemorrhage caused by the erosion of major vessels in the head and neck, and cachexia. With regard to therapy, the majority of authors appear to agree that local high-dose radiations in the area of the lesion are the best method of treatment for this pathology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Centrofacial malignant granulomas. Clinicopathologic study of 40 cases and review of the literature

An important problem in the treatment of centrofacial ulcerations is to establish a precise diagnosis, since similar clinical and microscopic findings can result from many different causes (as in the centrofacial malignant granuloma syndrome [CFMG]). A comprehensive surgical biopsy protocol (known as SNFMI/GMCF), involving microbiology, parasitology, immunology and pathology laboratories, allowed us to evaluate and to treat 40 cases of CFMG, who form the basis of this report. In 13 of them, specific diagnoses were found and curative treatments could be given. In the remaining 27, the optical microscopy pattern met the criteria for CFMG without identifiable origin or the presence of so-called lethal midline granulomas; however, a more precise evaluation with the help of immunofluorescence studies led to the recognition of malignant lymphoma (ulcerative lymphoma of the midface [ULM]). Most of these lymphomas belonged to the T cell lineage; the others were of B lymphoid origin, or, more rarely, of histiocytic origin. Patients with ULM received radiotherapy and chemotherapy with a response rate of 70.3%; however, the toxicity was significant, with frequent occurrence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia followed by severe infectious facial cellulitis. Six patients were enrolled in a preliminary open trial of treatment with recombinant alpha-2b interferon with little success. Three patients were treated with radiation therapy only, and survived. Thus, CFMG is a syndrome with specific causes and treatments, requiring multiple extensive biopsies to make the correct diagnosis. The recognition of ULM as the cause of the previously called "lethal midline granulomas" leads logically to the use of chemotherapy with growth factors in order to ameliorate its bad prognosis.

[Lethal midline granuloma in Senegal. (Apropos of 15 cases)]

African authors, other than senegalese, have not paid enough attention to lethal granuloma, a terrible disease. This series is about a series collected between 1975 and 1990. It is particularly high compared to other series in the world. If diagnosis is easy for the clinician, much care must surround the pathological answer. Those diagnosis problems and difficulties of treatment (represented by 11 deaths) are studied.

Lethal midline granuloma and lymphoproliferative disorders

Seventeen patients, who presented with unhealing ulcers or destructive lesions of the upper aero-digestive tract at Ramathibodi hospital from 1977 to 1985 were reported. Lesions caused by infection, Wegener's granulomatosis or non-hematopoietic malignancy were excluded. A spectrum of histopathologic findings were evident in our patients, ranging from acute and chronic inflammatory changes with or without necrosis, polymorphic reticulosis or lymphamatoid granulomatosis, and malignant lymphoma of the non-Hodgkin's type (NHL). Although some initial histopathologic findings were non-specific, evidence of lymphoproliferative disorders finally emerged. These malignant lymphoid cells had a predilection for the GI tract and skin. Lymphoma staging should thus be done. Bleeding from the lesion, treatment-induced leucopenia, and sepsis were common in these patients. Early aggressive treatment including adequate antibiotic coverage for superimposed infection, improved nutritional status, and early radiation to the primary lesion are suggested for those diseases.

Malignant lymphomas and related conditions involving nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: a clinicopathologic study of forty-two cases with emphasis on prognostic factors

Lymphoproliferative diseases involving the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are uncommon and show complex histology, which make our understanding of the disease inadequate. In the present study, clinicopathologic findings, especially prognostic factors, in 42 patients with such diseases were reviewed. Histologically these cases were divided into ordinary lymphoma (23 cases) and a disease pattern that frequently showed a polymorphous picture containing large atypical cells with a non-lymphoid appearance (19 cases). The latter was termed midline malignant reticulosis (MMR) according to Kassel's classification. Clinically 'MMR' showed greater incidence of early onset of disease and higher male preponderance than ordinary lymphoma. The most common presenting symptom was nasal obstruction in both diseases. Favourable prognostic factors assessed by Cox's multivariate analysis were ordinary lymphoma (vs MMR), stage I disease, absence of ulceration in the lesions, and a tendency for local tumor formation.

Midline granuloma due to illicit cocaine use

The successful treatment of patients with midline granuloma requires prompt recognition of the cause as the therapy is quite specific. Nasal insufflation of cocaine is rarely mentioned as a cause. Two patients are described who used intranasal cocaine, leading to midline ulceration of the upper respiratory tract.

An unusual complication of polymorphic reticulosis: a case presentation

The authors present a case of polymorphic reticulosis which responded to radiotherapy, but had a fatal complication with the development of a tracheoesophageal fistula.

Diseases of obscure etiology: sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and midline granuloma

Three distinct diseases of undetermined etiology have been presented: sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and midline (nonhealing) granuloma, all of which have similar clinical presentations in the midface. The correct diagnosis is essential because the treatment of each disease is different. Sarcoidosis responds best to corticosteroids, Wegener's granulomatosis to cyclophosphamide, and midline granuloma to radiation therapy. The otolaryngologist should be familiar with these diseases, since their important clinical manifestations are most frequently found in the nose, sinuses, and related structures. Early recognition by the otolaryngologist may determine the fate of patients with these disorders.

[Midline granuloma. A review of the literature with particular reference to diagnostic and therapeutic problems supplemented by 3 personal case reports]

The term midline granuloma and various synonyms have been used to describe a rare lesion that ultimately forms a necrotizing ulcerating destruction of the midface. The aetiology has been variously and repeatedly discussed, and a review of the literature shows that at least three entities, which are difficult to differentiate, should be considered. Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphoma and atypical histiocytic lymphoma, a disease with a pleomorphic histology, may all have an extensive necrosis and an intense inflammatory reaction. Upon the diagnosis, which is confirmed by biopsy, depends the appropriate treatment of these fatal diseases. The collective term midline granuloma should be avoided since it may delay the correct management.

"Lethal midline granuloma"

We have recently had two cases of midfacial granulomas in which laboratory examinations and multiple biopsies did not reveal a more specific diagnosis. Both responded to treatment. We feel that in such cases therapy should be given and based on the extent of local destruction and the history of the disease in the patient.

Midline granuloma and Wegener's granulomatosis: clinical & therapeutic considerations

Midline granuloma (MG), limited Wegener's granulomatosis (LWG), and generalized Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) have been viewed by some investigators as representing an interrelated disease spectrum. Others believe that MG and WG are two distinct clinicopathologic entities. A series of cases is presented suggesting that therapy of MG should be individualized. Treatment may include corticosteroids, high-dose irradiation, and/or immunosuppressive drugs. LWG may be treated initially with corticosteroids alone, but lack of response requires the addition of an immunosuppressive agent. WG should be treated with an immunosuppressive drug and, at times, corticosteroids as well. None of the cases of MG described in this report progressed to WG. This may be interpreted as supporting the contention that MG and WG are separate diseases. Alternatively, aggressive treatment of MG with irradiation or immunosuppressives may prevent its transition to more generalized disease.