Histiocyte-rich reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the liver: unusual morphologic features

J Korean Med Sci. 2008 Feb;23(1):156-60. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.1.156.

Abstract

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) of the liver is a rare entity and has also been termed nodular lymphoid lesion or pseudolymphoma of the liver. We report a case of hepatic RLH exhibiting unusual histiocyte-rich histologic features in a 47-yr-old woman in conjunction with a renal cell carcinoma. A follow-up computed tomography scan was done 14 months after a right radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma revealed a nodular lesion in segment 5 of the liver. The lesion was interpreted as metastatic renal cell carcinoma or hepatocellular carcinoma based on the history of the patient and radiologic findings. Wedge resection of segment 5 was done with sufficient distance from the mass. Microscopically, the lesion was composed predominantly of peculiar histiocytic proliferation and was characterized by lymphoid aggregates forming a lymphoid follicle with germinal centers. The present case and prior cases reported in the literature suggest that RLH of the liver appear to be a heterogenous group of reactive inflammatory lesions that are often associated with autoimmune disease or malignant tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Female
  • Histiocytes / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Diseases / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pseudolymphoma / pathology*