CD30+ Anaplastic Enteropathy-Associated T-cell Lymphoma Mimicking Crohn’s Disease

Introduction/Objective Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is an aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma with a very poor prognosis. It is not uncommon for patients with EATL to present with intestinal obstruction or perforation, with the diagnosis made following surgical resection or autopsy. Although EATL is associated with celiac disease, this diagnosis may be made concomitant with EATL. The symptomology is often non-specific, particularly without a known history of celiac disease, and progression may be rapid. Methods/Case Report We describe the case of a 57 year old male who presented with several months of diarrhea, fatigue, night sweats, severe weight loss, and failure to thrive. Initial workup indicated positivity for Clostridium difficile and cryptosporidium, leading to antibiotic treatment. His symptoms persisted without significant improvement and a presumptive diagnosis of Crohn’s disease was made based on colonoscopy with biopsy and imaging that showed inflammatory changes with entero-enteric fistula formation. Further clinical decline necessitated exploratory laparotomy which revealed multiple enteric strictures, intra-loop abscesses, and necrotic ulceration necessitating segmental ileal resections. There was no associated lymphadenopathy. Microscopically, there was a dense, polymorphic lymphoid population within the bowel wall with associated mucosal ulceration and abundant necrosis. Striking anaplastic cytomorphology was present, with a heavy intratumoral eosinophilic infiltrate. Neoplastic lymphocytes were CD3+, CD30+ T cells with a CD7+, CD5-, CD4-, CD8-, CD56-, ALK- immunophenotype. The adjacent intestinal mucosa showed features of celiac disease (villous atrophy, intraepithelial lymphocytosis). Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion The prominent anaplastic morphology in combination with strong, diffuse CD30 expression prompted consideration of other T cell lymphomas, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma and peripheral T cell lymphoma, NOS, within the differential. The presence of coexisting histologic changes of celiac disease, dense eosinophilic infiltrate, and absence of lymphadenopathy were clues to the correct diagnosis. Notably, the frequency of CD30 expression in EATL is variable but common among cases manifesting large cell morphology.

Anti-Desmocollin Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Blistering Diseases

The presence of anti-desmocollin (Dsc) antibodies is rarely described in autoimmune blistering diseases patients. Moreover, several clinical phenotypes of pemphigus may be associated with these antibodies. In this review we analyze clinicopathological, immunologic and outcome features of anti-Dsc autoimmune blistering diseases patients, to improve their diagnosis and management. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Embase (1990-present) for studies reporting cases of autoimmune blistering diseases with anti-Dsc antibodies. We classified the selected patients as patients with exclusively anti-Dsc autoantibodies, and patients with anti-Dsc and other autoantibodies. Of 93 cases with anti-Dsc autoantibodies included, 38 (41%) had exclusively these antibodies. Only 18% of patients presented with the typical clinicopathological phenotype of pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigus foliaceous. Mucosal involvement was seen in approximately half of the patients. Up to 18% of cases were associated with neoplasms. Acantholysis was described in 54% of cases with histopathological information. Treatments and outcomes vary in the different clinical phenotypes. The presence of anti-Dsc antibodies must be suspected mainly in those patients with either atypical pemphigus, in special with clinical pustules, or in cases showing intraepithelial or dermal neutrophilic/eosinophilic infiltrate on histological examination and dual pattern by direct immunofluorescence examination.

Relevance of tissue eosinophilia in subdural hematomata

Chronic subdural hematomata (CSDH) are treated by evacuation. Recurrence occurs in 3-20% of cases, but the factors determining its occurrence have not been determined. Having observed that eosinophil cell infiltrates are often present in the outer membrane of CSDH, our aim was to determine whether such infiltrates are associated with risk of recurrence. Histological sections of the resections from 72 patients with primary CSDH (Mean age 73.4) and 16 with recurrent CSDH (Mean age 72.1) stained with H&E were graded by blinded observers for eosinophilic cell infiltrates using a semiquantitative 0 to 3 scale. The risk of recurrence requiring reoperation (RrR) in primary CSDH was 11.1%, and 12.5% in recurrent CSDH (meaning third surgery was required). A dense (grades 2 or 3) eosinophilic infiltrate was present in 22.2% of primary CSDH; the RrR was 0% in these cases, as compared with 14.8% in cases with sparse (grades 0-1) eosinophilic infiltrate. Among recurrent CSDH cases, 12.5% (2/15) showed a dense eosinophilic infiltrate; the RrR was also 0%, contrasting with 14.3% in those with sparse eosinophilic infiltrate. We conclude that eosinophils either play a role or are a marker of a process leading to stabilizing CSDH, making them less prone to rebleeding. Abstract not previously publishedLearning ObjectivesDescribe the risk of recurrence following surgical evacuation of chronic subdural hematomataRecognize the variable presence of eosinophils in chronic subdural hematomataCite the presence of eosinophils is predictive of absence of recurrence

Duodenal strongyloidiasis – Our 15-year histopathological experience at a tertiary gastrointestinal centre

In order to emphasise the importance of histopathology in the clinically unsuspected diagnosis of duodenal strongyloidiasis, we report six cases diagnosed on duodenal biopsies identified from the database over a period of 15 years, and clinical, endoscopic and histopathological findings were analysed retrospectively. Four were elderly males and the remainder young females. Only one patient had an underlying immunocompromised state. Three presented with cholestatic jaundice and simulated hepatobiliary malignancy. In all cases, endoscopy provided non-specific findings. Only one case showed a predominant eosinophilic infiltrate. Eggs, larvae and adult forms of strongyloides were seen in crypts and showed intense basophilic staining on HE stain. It is concluded that since mostly undetected clinically, duodenal biopsy serves as the first step in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis. Hepatobiliary manifestations, though very infrequent, should raise the suspicion for strongyloidiasis and thus necessitate the need for duodenal biopsy.

Eosinophilic colitis: an infrequent disease with difficult diagnose

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is a rare entity. It is part of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a rare inflammatory disorder characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of tissues that can affect any segment of the digestive tract. The diagnosis is established by the presence of an increased eosinophilic infiltrate in the colon wall in symptomatic patients. There is no characteristic clinical picture of EC. It can be associated with abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. Biopsies are mandatory if EC is suspected and despite visualising a normal mucosa. Although there are no protocol guidelines in this regard, steroid treatment is the first option in controlling the disease. Increasing the knowledge of clinicians and pathologists of this disorder and the recording its real incidence and population impact, could improve the understanding and treatment of the disease.

Eosinophilic Cholecystitis presenting with Common Bile Duct Sludge and Cholangitis: A Case Report

Eosinophilic cholecystitis is a rare post-cholecystectomy inflammatory histopathological condition characterized by more than 90% eosinophilic infiltrate in the gallbladder. We present a case of 27-year female presented with abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, altered mental status, shock, leucocytosis, deranged liver function test, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration. She developed adult respiratory distress syndrome and hospital-acquired pneumonia. From this, we want to emphasize that eosinophilic cholecystitis and cholangiopathy should be a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with allergy, peripheral eosinophilia, obstructive jaundice that are planned to undergo cholecystectomy that will have early critical care intervention.

ASSOCIATION OF DUODENAL EOSINOPHILIC INFILTRATE WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION, BUT NOT WITH FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The role of Helicobacter pylori infection on eosinophilic infiltration in duodenal mucosa is poorly studied. An increase in the number of eosinophils in duodenum has been associated with functional dyspepsia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of H. pylori infection on duodenal eosinophil count and the role of eosinophilic infiltrate of duodenum in functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Positive and negative H. pylori individuals were included. Both functional dyspeptic patients according to Rome III criteria (cases) and individuals without gastrointestinal symptoms (controls) were enrolled. They were submitted to upper endoscopy and H. pylori infection was verified by gastric histopathology and urease test. Eosinophils in the duodenal mucosa were counted in five high-power fields, randomly selected on slides of endoscopic biopsies. RESULTS: Thirty-nine H. pylori positive (mean age 40.5 and 69.2% women) and 24 negative patients (mean age 37.3 and 75% women) were included. The influence of the infection was observed in the duodenal eosinophil count, which was higher in infected individuals: median 13.2 vs 8.1 in non-infected individuals (P=0.005). When we analyzed patients according to symptoms, cases - mean age 39.6; 71.4% women - and controls - mean age 38.7; 71.4% women - had similar duodenal eosinophil count: median 11.9 and 12.6 respectively (P=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: We did not demonstrate association of duodenal eosinophil count with functional dyspepsia but found association with H. pylori infection.