Tumorous neo-vascularization: a newly recognized endoscopic feature of intestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma

A 42-year-old man with Crohn’s disease (since 1995) underwent control endoscopy in May 2005 (Figure [1]). A diagnosis of extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type of the jejunum was made using histology and immunohistochemistry.

Figure 1 Push-enteroscopy. Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the proximal jejunum. Transverse folds are swollen, and no villi could be recognized. Multiple, tortuous, winding vessels are seen in affected folds (asterisks).

A 68-year-old man, who had previously undergone chemo- and radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (up to April 2005), was investigated in January 2006 following symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal colicky pain, frequent passage of mucus, and sporadic hematochezia (Figure [2] and [3]). Diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the colon was made using histology and immunohistochemistry.

Figure 2 Colonoscopy. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the ascending colon. Tumorous neo-vascularization is macroscopically apparent in the involved folds (asterisks).

Figure 3 Colonoscopy. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the rectum. Edematous and infiltrated folds (asterisks) create stenosis of the lumen. Multiple branching tumorous vessels are visible.

Endoscopic features of intestinal lymphoma usually comprise infiltration of the intestinal wall: the affected segment is rigid, reddish, fragile, and often bleeds spontaneously. Irregular nodular pattern and multiple ulcers with scaring may also be found [1] [2] [3]. We report two cases of macroscopically visible neo-vascularization as a newly recognized endoscopic feature of intestinal lymphoma. We consider these pathological, winding, tortuous vessels as a unique sign of tumorous angiogenesis. We can hypothesize that this could be stimulated by means of cytokines mediated by T-lymphocytes infiltrating margins of the neoplasm. Another possible factor is the bcl-2 family of proteins, which are considered to be responsible for pathological neo-vascularization in both human and experimental oncology [4] [5]. In both our cases, B-lymphocytes also expressed bcl-2 proteins in the lymphoma.

In conclusion, awareness of this unusual, newly recognized endoscopic feature of winding, tortuous, tumorous vessels, in both small and large bowel lymphoma, may be helpful for timely diagnosis.

References

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