Background

Composite lymphoma (CL), which is defined as the coexistence of two morphologically and phenotypically distinct types of lymphoid neoplasms occurring in a single anatomic organ or tissue, is unusual [1, 2]. The combination might include Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with B-cell or a T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), B-cell NHL with T -cell NHL, or two distinct B-cell or T-cell NHLs at the same anatomic site [2–6]. The concept of "composite lymphoma" was first put forward by Custer RP to expatiate the occurrence of more than one histological type of lymphoma in the same patient [7]. The incidence of CL is low, varying from 1% to 4.7% [8]. In our present study, we report a case of composite nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma (NSHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the anterior mediastinum. The clinical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical features and the clinical prognosis are discussed.

Case presentation

The 37-year-old woman presented with a three-month history of continuous pain in the right shoulder and chest. She was taken to our department of cardiothoracic surgery. Physical examination was remarkable for palpable lymph nodes in the bilateral supraclavicular fossae. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an oval mass located in the anterior mediastinum. Circumambient lung tissue was involved. Haematological findings were: WBC 15.40 × 109/L, platelets 364 × 109/L, prothrombin time 10.3 sec. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood biochemistry, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, urine analysis and the endocrine profile were within normal range except hemoglobin (106 g/L) and tumor specific growth factor (67 U/ML). The abdominal ultrasonography did not reveal any other abnormality.

The surgery was performed with the patient under general anesthesia and left lateral decubitus position. The procedure revealed an oval tumor, volume of which was 7 cm × 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm, in the anterior mediastinum and circumambient lung tissue was involved. Pathologic findings during surgery showed that the tumor was off-white with obscure boundaries and hard in consistence (Figure 1). The result of pathology hinted that the tumor maybe malignant lymphoma. The tumor and circumambient lung tissue which was involved were excised.

Figure 1
figure 1

Gross morphology of the tumor. The cut section of the tumor is off-white with obscure boundaries and hard in consistence. Volume of the tumor is 7 cm × 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm.

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Histology showed the tumor was nodular and different nodules were separated by collagen fibers (Figure 2A). There were two morphologically and immunophenotypically distinct components. The great mass of nodules showed a pleomorphic cellular infiltrate containing lymphocyte, eosinophile granulocyte, neutrophile granulocyte and numerous large Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells. The Reed-Sternberg cells were positive for CD30, CD15 and MUM1 but negative for CD20, CD79a, CD3, Pax-5, CD68, bcl-6, CD10, CD45, Igκ, Igλ and epithelial membrane antigen (Figure 2B, Figure 3A). Other nodules displayed sheets of relatively uniform large lymphoid cells with typical morphologic features of large cell lymphoma which showed uniform expression of CD20, CD79a, MUM1, CD45, Igλ, Pax-5 and absence of CD30, CD15, CD3, CD10, bcl-6, Igκ, CD68 and epithelial membrane antigen (Figure 2C, Figure 3B). All the primary antibodies are listed in Table 1. Neither cell population showed makers of EBV infection by EBER in situ hybridization (PanPath Company, Amsterdam, Netherlands). On the basis of histomorphology at light microscopy, the presence of immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization, a diagnosis of CL, combination of NSHL and DLBCL, in the anterior mediastinum was made. The patient received six courses of CHOP chemotherapy (a course of treatment every two weeks) and twenty three times radiotherapy (Gross Tumor Volume, GTV = 40Gy/20f; Planning Target Volume, PTV = 36 Gy/20f). After treatment, lymph nodes in the bilateral supraclavicular fossa disappeared. The total follow-up period was thirty three months after surgery. The repeated CT scans, abdominal ultrasonography and tumor specific growth factor every three months revealed no recurring or residual lesion.

Figure 2
figure 2

Histological examination. (A)The tumor is nodular and different nodules are separated by collagen fibers. Different nodules show different histologic features (H&E × 40). (B) Pleomorphic cellular infiltrate containing lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and large Reed-Sternberg cells (arrows) (H&E × 400). (C) Other nodules display sheets of relatively uniform large lymphoid cells with typical morphologic features of large cell lymphoma (H&E × 100).

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Figure 3
figure 3

Immunohistochemical features of the tumor. (A)Immunohistochemical study demonstrates that Reed-Sternberg cells are positive for CD30 (Envision × 100). (B) Immunohistochemical study shows that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells is positive for CD20 (Envision × 100).

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Table 1 Antibodies employed in the immunohistochemistry applied
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Discussion

Clinically, manifestation of CL is similar with that of ordinary lymphoma. The true incidence of CL occurring in the same tissue is difficult to estimate because of the pathologist and the classification system used. In the study of more than one thousand of cases for Working Formulation of NHL, the incidence of CL varied between 1 and 4.7% [6, 9]. The combination of classical Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma coexisting in the same tissue is rare and much more uncommon than other combinations. To our best knowledge, Kim et al firstly reported the patient with CL consisting of an admixture of HL and NHL in the left axillary node [10]. According to our literature search, only six cases showing combination of classical Hodgkin lymphoma and DLBCL within the same site simultaneously were described [11–15]. The clinical data of all previously published cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma associated with DLBCL was listed in Table 2.

Table 2 Clinical data of previously published cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma with DLBCL
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Lymphoma, generally, is defined as monoclonal proliferation of lymphocyte (T cell, B cell or natural killer cell) while polyclonal hyperplasia is generally regarded as reactive lymphoid proliferation. However, the pathogenesis of CL is not clear. Many studies of CL using molecular techniques have proved true biclonality as well as a common origin from the same clonal progenitor cell and suggested different biological mechanisms in different tumors [4, 13, 14, 16–18]. As far as the combination of HL and B-cell NHL is concerned, the most common form is nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) with large cell lymphoma [6]. The both components may occur synchronously and successively. More and more researchers swing the pendulum towards that HL and B-cell NHL coexisting in the same tissue might originate from a common precursor by molecular techniques [13, 14, 19]. Bräuninger et al studied CL from one patient (classic HL and a follicular lymphoma in the same lymph node). A V gene rearrangement and some somatic mutations were shared by Reed-Sternberg cells and follicular lymphoma cells, which provided proof of a common B-cell precursor [16]. Schmitz et al summarized six cases of such CL in which the HLs were combined in two cases with follicular lymphoma, and in one case each with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and DLBCL. The composite lymphomas had been analyzed by single-cell PCR analysis for rearranged IgV genes and a clonal relationship was confirmed [16, 20, 21]. In the cases of NLPHD with associated LBCL, the presence of a clonal population in the NLPHD component that was identical or related to the neoplastic clone of the associated LBCL has been found. In addition, in situ hybridization has shown that both L&H cells and LBCL cells expressed the same type of the immunoglobulin light chain messenger RNA. Single L&H cells, the Reed-Sternberg cells variants in NLPHD, were isolated from immunostained tissue sections by micromanipulation, and the IgH complementarity determining region (CDR) III of the cells was amplified by PCR. The sequences from the L&H cells also were related to those from the corresponding LBCL cells. All of these findings strongly suggested that NLPHD was related to the corresponding LBCL [19, 22].

We have analysed our case of a patient with NSHL, presenting a distinct focal area of proliferation composed of large monomorphous NHL cells in the anterior mediastinum. On immunohistochemical analysis, typical Reed-Sternberg cells expressed CD 30, CD 15 and MUM1 antigens, but lacked CD20 and Pax-5 immunoreactivity. The large monomorphous NHL cells reacted with the antibodies CD20, CD79a, MUM1 and Pax-5, showing a B-cell-related phenotype, and no other expression of the antigens was expressed by Reed-Sternberg cells expect MUM1 protein. Unfortunately, we could not perform further molecular investigations in order to determine whether a clonal relationship between the Reed-Sternberg cells and the DLBCL cells does exist in our patient. Thus, we can only offer speculations on this intriguing issue according to the existing literatures. Two main possibilities may be considered, as follows in Table 3.

Table 3 Clinical features of previously published cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma with DLBCL
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First, both NSHL and DLBCL originate from a common precursor B cell, that is, the same abnormal B cell gives rise to the different neoplastic disorders through distinct bilogical pathways. Bellan et al reported that immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) rearrangement was found in the VH region in Reed-Sternberg cells and LBCL cells. A repeated VH4DH3JH4 segment was observed in Reed-Sternberg cells, while a repeated VH3DH3JH4 segment was found in LBCL cells. The two populations showing the same JH and DH segments with no variation from the respective sequence indicated they derived from a common B cell origin [14]. In addition, clonally related Vκgene rearrangement was also found in both Reed-Sternberg cells and DLBCL cells which revealed a common lymphoma precursor [15]. During the course of neoplastic progression, both NSHL and DLBCL were assumed to share one or more transforming events, which might play an important role in the up-regulation or down-regulation of tumor associated antigens. For example, Pax-5 is an important B-cell transcription factor and expressed regularly in the Reed-Sternberg cells of HL. But this antigen could be lost in the Reed-Sternberg cells, which was caused by some transforming event in the tumorigeness of CL [13]. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was identified in a subset of cases of HL and in some NHL, particularly those associated with immunodeficiency [23]. However, EBV infection did not seem to be the primary event in this tumorigeness by assessing the data of table 3. Second, Paulli et al suggested the NSHL and DLBCL components were totally unrelated and their occurrence together within the same lymph node simply represented a coincidental occurrence [12]. However, this result might be inconclusive which was supported by immunohistochemical research and lacked the molecular studies.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is the most critical disease in distinguishing with DLBCL of CL. PMBCL is currently classified as a subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which has distinct clinical and molecular features, many of which are similar with that of NSHL [24]. PMBCL shows the clinical presentation of a large anterior mediastinal mass in a young female, but it does not express immunoglobulin [24–26]. In our present study, large B-cell lymphoma cells expressed Igλ which could help us differ it from PMBCL. In addition, there is a lack or defective expression of HLA class I or II molecules and an over-expression of MAL or interleukin-4 inducible gene FIG1 is always found in PMBCL [27]. Secondly, mediastinal gray zone lymphoma (MGZL), which represents two kinds of manifestation, should also be considered in differential diagnosis. In some cases, the histologic appearance is more suggestive of MLBCL, but the immunohistochemical features are characteristic of classical HL with expression of CD15 and CD30, and weak or absent CD20 positivity. In other cases, the histology is more reminiscent of classical HL, but the immunophenotype is more suggestive of a DLBCL. In our case, morphologic and immunohistochemical features have shown two different neoplasms. The Reed-Sternberg cells were positive for CD30, CD15 but negative for CD20, CD79a, CD45, while large B-cell lymphoid cells showed expression of CD20, CD79a, CD45 and absence of CD30, CD15. Other histological differential diagnoses, including leukocythemia, carcinoma metastaticum, sarcoma, reactive lymphoid proliferation and collision tumor [28] should be cautiously considered. Careful observation under the microscope and properly performed immunohistochemistry could be helpful for a correct diagnosis [2].

There is no evidence that the clinical course of CL differs significantly from that of discordant lyomphoma or lymphoma in general when the component with the poorest prognosis is taken into consideration. Although the case is rare and the number of reported cases is small, most scholars suggest that the prognosis is depended by the unfavorable component of CL. Therefore, therapeutic decision should be based on this ingredient [2, 29]. The treatment for the patient we presented was CHOP chemotherapy and adjuvant radiation therapy after surgery. The necessary follow-up examination among thirty three months disclosed there was no palindromic lesion.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of CL, combination of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, arising in the anterior mediastinum. By molecular techniques, many scholars have proved the two different ingredients tend to origin from the same clonal progenitor cell. EBV infection is not essential transforming event during the course of tumorigenesis. The contribution of immunohistochemstry plays an important role in differential diagnoses. Therapeutic decision of CL should be based on the component of which malignant degree is higher.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.