A challenging diagnosis of plasmablastic lymphoma: importance of integrating morpholgy immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry findings (case report)

Abstract

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare clinicopathological entity that still raises many diagnostic and management difficulties, particularly due to the overlap between plasmablastic lymphomas and myeloma features. We report a clinical presentation of PBL affecting bone marrow in a 43-year-old patient who was admitted for B symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly, and bicytopenia investigation. Based on these findings, acute leukemia was suspected. Bone marrow morphology immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry contributed to establishing the diagnosis of medullary PBL. The patient deteriorated and died due to septic shock. This pathology requires collaboration between clinicians, pathologists, and biologists to confirm the diagnosis early. Nevertheless, a delayed diagnosis may contribute to worsening the prognosis particularly due to advanced stage consultation. Our reported case illustrates a rare clinical presentation affecting bone marrow. In our context, a confrontation between flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry was of interest as it helped to detect the immunological features of this neoplasm.