Korean J Cytopathol.  2007 Sep;18(2):165-169.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Extranodal Marginal Zone B cell Lymphoma with Abundant Plasma Cells and Eosinophilic Histiocytes in Parotid Gland

• Lee Y
• An J
• Chae YS
• Yeom BW
• Choi JS
• Kim CH

Abstract

The authors present the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) cytologic findings of a case of extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma (MZBCL), which featured abundant plasma cells and eosinophilic histiocytes arising in both parotid glands. A 49-year-old female presented with palpable masses in both parotid glands. She had been suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The lesions were evaluated by FNAC and smears showed a small number of clusters of oncocytic cells with abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and small nuclei, intermixed with small to medium-sized lymphoid cells containing round to lobulated nuclei, which suggested Warthin's tumor. Some of lymphoid cells had a plasmacytoid appearance, and some scattered large cells contained a large amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Bilateral superficial parotidectomy was performed and a histopathologic study indicated MZBCL with abundant plasma cells, intermixed with eosinophilic histiocytes. The presence of oncocytic cells and a mixture of lymphoid and plasma cells indicates Warthin's tumor, but the cytologic features of a relatively monotonous small to medium-sized lymphoid infiltrate suggest the possibility of MZBCL in the clinical setting of an FNAC study performed on a patient suffering from a connective tissue disease.

Keyword

Extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma,Parotid gland; FNAC

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Connective Tissue Diseases
Cytoplasm
Eosinophils*
Female
Histiocytes*
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Lymphocytes
Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone*
Middle Aged
Parotid Gland*
Plasma Cells*
Plasma*