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Research Paper | Histopathology | India | Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023

Plasmablastic Lymphoma: Histopathological Features and Differential Diagnosis

Dr. Kalaharaghini Rajasheker | Dr. Nagarjun B R | Dr. Biren Parikh

Abstract: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a diffuse large B cell lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation included in the WHO classification. Awareness of this entity and the availability of diagnostic markers have resulted in a recent increase in the number of PBL cases reported. A better understanding of tumour biology has widened the scope of developing new therapeutics, necessitating an accurate diagnosis of PBL. A 10 - year retrospective study was conducted in a regional cancer hospital, and cases diagnosed as PBL were retrieved. The results were categorised as HIV - positive, immuno - competent and pediatric patients. The clinical & biological parameters with morphology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were analysed. Varied clinical presentations and morphological patterns were observed in PBL, resulting in various differentials, namely, carcinomas, round cell tumours, sarcoma, melanoma, high - grade lymphomas and anaplastic myeloma. The current study elaborates on the morphological features in core biopsies and IHC markers which aided the diagnosis of PBL. Varied morphological presentations differing from classical descriptions demand correlation with clinical and radiological parameters for including plasmacytic differentiation markers in providing an accurate diagnosis and deserved patient care.

Keywords: plasmablastic lymphoma, morphology, differential diagnosis, immuno histochemistry

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023,

Pages: 2511 - 2516