A Case of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Authors' Affiliations

Oranus Mohammadi, Department of Oncology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University Katrina Taylor, Department of Pathology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University Alina Bhat, Department of Oncology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University

Location

Culp Center Ballroom

Start Date

4-25-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

4-25-2023 11:00 AM

Poster Number

78

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Internal Medicine

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Alina Bhat

Classification of First Author

Medical Resident or Clinical Fellow

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Project's Category

Lymphatic System

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive, rare malignancy. Exact incidence is unknown due to lack of diagnostic criteria. Typically, it involves skin and bone marrow and less likely, lymph nodes and visceral organs.

We present a 76 year old male who started having a lesion on the left side of his back that was progressively enlarging. He initially started on antibiotic and topical medications for more than a month which did not help. Punch biopsy of the lesion was consistent with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, positive for CD2, CD5, CD7, CD43, weak CD58,Tdt, bcl-6. Patient denies fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, change in appetite. Physical exam revealed a purplish lesion raised in the left upper back with multiple satellite-like purple lesions throughout the back. Laboratory showed white cell count 3.2 K/uL, hemoglobin 13 g/dL, platelet 135 K/uL. Bone marrow biopsy shows immature blastic neoplasm involving 15% of the bone marrow. Cytogenetics showed normal karyotype. Flow cytometry shows an immature lymphoid population with expression of CD4, CD56, and CD 123, negative for FLT3, IDH1, IDH2, NPM1 mutations. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed skin thickening with minimal FDG uptake in left posterior skin soft tissue of the chest near the shoulder with no other abnormal focal uptake and splenomegaly.

BPDCN is a rare aggressive malignancy that is more common in older populations. The origin is from type 2 dendritic cells. Typical presentations are skin lesions, cytopenia, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. Some of the cytological features of BPDCN include cloudy sky (blue cytoplasm with clearer areas), pseudopods, and microvacuoles. Confirmation of diagnosis is with immunophenotyping. Workup after diagnosis include complete blood count, liver and renal function, hepatitis panel, peripheral blood smear, bone marrow evaluation, systemic imaging, cerebrospinal fluid cytology.

Treatment of BPDCN is challenging in this era. Most patients respond to chemotherapy, although they relapse. Tegraxofusp is suggested for remission induction therapy following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Median overall survival is about one year. Only patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant had prolonged survival. Myelemia, old age and altered general state have worse prognosis.

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Apr 25th, 9:00 AM Apr 25th, 11:00 AM

A Case of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Culp Center Ballroom

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive, rare malignancy. Exact incidence is unknown due to lack of diagnostic criteria. Typically, it involves skin and bone marrow and less likely, lymph nodes and visceral organs.

We present a 76 year old male who started having a lesion on the left side of his back that was progressively enlarging. He initially started on antibiotic and topical medications for more than a month which did not help. Punch biopsy of the lesion was consistent with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, positive for CD2, CD5, CD7, CD43, weak CD58,Tdt, bcl-6. Patient denies fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, change in appetite. Physical exam revealed a purplish lesion raised in the left upper back with multiple satellite-like purple lesions throughout the back. Laboratory showed white cell count 3.2 K/uL, hemoglobin 13 g/dL, platelet 135 K/uL. Bone marrow biopsy shows immature blastic neoplasm involving 15% of the bone marrow. Cytogenetics showed normal karyotype. Flow cytometry shows an immature lymphoid population with expression of CD4, CD56, and CD 123, negative for FLT3, IDH1, IDH2, NPM1 mutations. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed skin thickening with minimal FDG uptake in left posterior skin soft tissue of the chest near the shoulder with no other abnormal focal uptake and splenomegaly.

BPDCN is a rare aggressive malignancy that is more common in older populations. The origin is from type 2 dendritic cells. Typical presentations are skin lesions, cytopenia, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. Some of the cytological features of BPDCN include cloudy sky (blue cytoplasm with clearer areas), pseudopods, and microvacuoles. Confirmation of diagnosis is with immunophenotyping. Workup after diagnosis include complete blood count, liver and renal function, hepatitis panel, peripheral blood smear, bone marrow evaluation, systemic imaging, cerebrospinal fluid cytology.

Treatment of BPDCN is challenging in this era. Most patients respond to chemotherapy, although they relapse. Tegraxofusp is suggested for remission induction therapy following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Median overall survival is about one year. Only patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant had prolonged survival. Myelemia, old age and altered general state have worse prognosis.