A case of lambda-expressing pulmonary MALT lymphoma with dual clonal rearrangements of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain gene

• Published in: Taehan Chindan Kŏmsa Ŭihakhoe chi 2009-06, Vol.29 (3), p.256-261
• Main Authors: Oh, Hye Ryong, Lee, Mi Ja, Park, Geon, Moon, Dae Soo, Park, Young Jin, Jang, Sook Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: Korean
• Subjects: Aged; Female; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light Chain; Humans; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains - genetics; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains - genetics; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - diagnosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - genetics; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone - pathology; Polymerase Chain Reaction
• ISSN: 1598-6535
• DOI: 10.3343/kjlm.2009.29.3.256

A 70-yr-old woman was hospitalized with a history of dry cough. Bronchial endoscopy and transbronchial lung biopsy were performed. However, the findings of histopathology and immunohistochemistry were not sufficient to decide whether the lesion was benign or malignant, because of the presence of crush artifacts in the biopsy specimens. We performed B-cell clonality studies using BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR (InVivoScribe Technologies, USA) to detect clonal rearrangements in the immunoglobulin gene. The results of multiplex PCR showed clonal rearrangements of both kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain genes. The findings of immunochemistry revealed that the lesion expressed lambda light chain, but not kappa light chain. Based on the clinical, pathologic, and molecular findings, this case was diagnosed as pulmonary MALT lymphoma. We report the first case in Korea of lambda-expressing MALT lymphoma that is shown to have dual clonal rearrangements of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain gene by multiplex PCR.