B Lymphoproliferative Neoplasms of Uncertain Biological Significance: Report from the IV Workshop of the Italian Group of Hematopathology and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Lymphoproliferative neoplasms of uncertain biological significance are increasingly encountered due to widespread usage of immunophenotypic and molecular techniques. Considering that clearer biological criteria and patient management have been established for B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases of undetermined significance occurring in the peripheral blood, many issues are still obscure for early lesions detected in lymphoid tissues. Regardless that some categories of lymphoproliferative neoplasms of uncertain biological significance have been recognized by the 4th edition of the WHO, other anecdotal early lymphoproliferative lesions still remain fully undefined. Some early lesions frequently originate from the germinal center, including atypical germinal centers BCL2-negative, an early pattern of large B-cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement, and “in situ” high-grade B lymphomas. Moreover, other early lymphoproliferative lesions arise outside the germinal center and include those developing within the setting of monocytoid B-cell hyperplasia, but they also can be directly or indirectly associated with chronic inflammations. This review aims to summarize the concepts discussed during the IV Workshop organized by the Italian Group of Hematopathology, focus on the state-of-the-art on B-cell lymphoproliferative neoplasms of uncertain biological significance, and offer operative insights to pathologists and clinicians in routine diagnostics.

Keywords

• lymphoproliferative neoplasms of uncertain biological significance
• monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis
• “in situ” follicular neoplasia
• “in situ” mantle cell neoplasia
• atypical germinal centers
• large B-cell lymphoma with <i>IRF4</i> rearrangement