
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma classification
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma may be classified based on location into nodal and extranodal disease and based on pathological and clinical features.
Classification
Classification
Classification Based on Location
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma may be classified based on location:
- Nodal disease
- Extranodal disease
Classification Based on Pathological and Clinical Features
According to the updated WHO classification, diffuse large B cell lymphoma may be classified based on pathological and clinical features into the following:
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, NOS (represents more than 80% of cases of large B-cell lymphomas)
- Molecular subtypes: GCB subtype, about 60%; ABC subtype, about 25β30%; unclassifiable, about 10β15%; new molecular entities recently characterized
Diagnostic features
Diffuse proliferation of medium or large lymphoid B cells typically expressing CD19, CD20, CD22, CD79a, PAX5, and surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin; molecular techniques (e.g., GEP) or IHC-based algorithms recommended to classify subtypes
Clinical Features and Outcome
- The median age is 65β70 yr
- Nodal presentation is the most common and 30β40% of cases are primary extranodal
- prognosis is variable
Other Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) type
T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma (rare)
- Few large B cells embedded in a background of T cells and histiocytes; distinguish from nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
- Commonly found in middle-aged men, advanced stage with extranodal involvement (liver, spleen, bone marrow); poor prognosis
Primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the central nervous system (rare)
- Typically ABC subtype; frequent loss of HLA class I/II; frequent mutation of MYD88
- Exclusively in CNS or intraocular region, rare systemic involvement; poor prognosis; specialized treatment with CNS-penetrating agents, with or without radiation therapy, required; targeted therapies under investigation
Primary Cutaneous DLBCL, Leg type (rare)
- Typically ABC subtype; frequent mutation of MYD88; distinguish from other cutaneous B-cell lymphoma
- Typically in elderly patients and women; presents with skin nodules in lower legs; 10β15% of cases arise in other sites; poor prognosis
EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, NOS (rare)
- Variable histologic features, including Hodgkin-like lesions, monomorphic to polymorphic patterns; EBV detectable in tumor and frequently in serum
- Typically in patients older than 50 yr; more frequent in Asia and Latin America than elsewhere; extranodal involvement common; prognosis varies
EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (rare)
- Polymorphic infiltrate with frequent Hodgkin-like cells; EBV is detectable in tumor
- Presents as localized, ulcerated lesions in oral mucosa, intestine, or skin; dissemination is rare; commonly occurs as iatrogenic or age-related disease in immunocompromised patients; favorable prognosis; consider reduction of immunosuppressive therapy
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma associated with chronic inflammation (rare)
- Morphologically similar to DLBCL, NOS but strongly associated with EBV; also called pyothorax-associated lymphoma, when associated with chronic pyothorax
- Occurs in context of chronic inflammation, involving pleural cavity or other sites such as bone and joints; male predominance; poor prognosis
Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (rare)
- EBV-driven angiocentric and angiodestructive lymphoproliferation with reactive T cells; grade based on proportion of EBV positive B cells and cytologic features
- Commonly involves extranodal sites (lung >90%); often in context of immunodeficiency; prognosis varies; no standard therapy
Large B-cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement (rare)
- Strong expression of IRF4/MUM1, usually with IRF4 rearrangement; diffuse-to-follicular morphologic features; distinguish from pediatric-type follicular lymphoma
- Commonly in children and young adults; typically involves Waldeyerβs ring or cervical lymph nodes; favorable prognosis
Primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma (around 6% of large B-cell cases)
- Putative thymic B-cell origin; medium-to-large B cells, frequently with sclerosis; distinctive phenotype (CD30, CD23, PDL1, PDL2) and unique GEP signature; frequent 9p21 amplification, genomic alterations of CIITA
- Typically in young adults, female predominance; mediastinal prominence with local invasion; can involve other nodal or extranodal sites (kidney and liver); prognosis varies; DA-EPOCH-R an option
Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (rare)
- Lymphoma cells exclusively within lumina of small or intermediate vessels; bone marrow and skin biopsy may be useful to establish diagnosis
- Wide intravascular dissemination (lung, bone marrow, skin, CNS, kidney), often associated with fever of unknown origin or neurologic or cutaneous symptoms; poor prognosis
ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma (rare)
- ALK–positive large B cells, immunoblastic features and plasma cell phenotype, typically CD20-negative
- Typically in young men with generalized lymphadenopathy; prognosis varies
Plasmablastic lymphoma (rare)
- Immunoblastic or plasmablastic B cells, plasma-cell phenotype (CD138–positive, CD20–negative), often EBV–positive; distinguish from multiple myeloma
- Often associated with HIV infection or immunosuppression; frequently extranodal; poor prognosis; consider more intensive regimens
HHV8-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (rare)
- HHV8–positive IgM lambda plasmablasts; often associated with HHV8-positive multicentric Castleman disease
- Often associated with HIV infection; lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly are common; poor prognosis; no standard therapy
Primary effusion lymphoma (rare)
- Immunoblastic or plasmablastic B cells, HHV8-positive and usually EBV–positive; plasma-cell phenotype lacking usual B-cell markers; CD20-negative
- Often associated with HIV infection or immunosuppression; presents as pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal serous effusions, often without detectable tumor mass; poor prognosis; DA-EPOCH an option
High-grade B-cell lymphoma
- High-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements or both (doublehit or triple-hit lymphoma) (4β8% of large B-cell cases)
- Variable morphology, including DLBCL, B-cell lymphoma unclassifiable (with features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt lymphoma), and blastoid features; MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, detected by FISH
- Frequently aggressive clinical presentation; higher risk of CNS involvement; poor prognosis; consider more intensive immunochemotherapy regimens, such as DA-EPOCH-R
High-grade B-cell lymphoma, NOS (rare)
- Heterogeneous category; often has morphologic features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt lymphoma; lacks MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements
- Frequently aggressive clinical presentation; increased risk of CNS involvement; poor prognosis; consider more intensive immunochemotherapy regimens
B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable
- B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma (grey-zone lymphoma) (rare)
- Overlapping morphologic or immunophenotypic features, or both, between DLBCL and classic Hodgkin lymphoma
- Male predominance, younger age (20β40 yr); mediastinal presentation most common (80% of cases) but can occur in other sites; prognosis varies; no standard therapy, consider therapy suitable for DLBCL or Hodgkin lymphoma
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sowminya Arikapudi, M.B,B.S. [2] Anila Hussain, MD [3]
