Rosado, Flavia

Abstract Abstract 986 In 2011, we described the TEMPI syndrome in three patients, a rare condition characterized by the pentad of (1) Telangiectasias, (2) elevated Erythropoietin and resulting erythrocytosis, (3) Monoclonal gammopathy, (4) Perinephric fluid collections, and (5) Intrapulmonary shunting. Since this publication, two additional living patients have been identified. Of note, all patients carried a diagnosis of unexplained polycythemia for many years to decades prior to the realization that the erythrocytosis was only one part of a more complex syndrome. The underlying pathophysiology of the TEMPI syndrome is unknown. Given that the patients did not exhibit symptoms until their 3rd or 4th decade, we felt that the TEMPI syndrome was more likely to be acquired and less likely to be congenital. We hypothesized that the monoclonal paraprotein may play a role in triggering this very unusual pattern of symptoms. Based on this hypothesis, the patients began empiric treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, either alone, or as part of an induction regimen prior to autologous stem cell transplantation. The first patient to receive bortezomib, a 48 year old woman, received 8 cycles of intravenous bortezomib, given in standard fashion. Her telangiectasias, which were concentrated over her lips and torso, disappeared rapidly. Her bilateral perinephric fluid collections disappeared and her serum erythropoietin normalized from a peak of >5000 mIU/ml. By the end of the 8 cycles, her IgG kappa paraprotein became undetectable. Before treatment, she was hypoxic to such a degree that she required a wheelchair and continuous supplemental oxygen. Following treatment, her intrapulmonary shunting resolved, her oxygen saturation normalized, and she has resumed jogging. She remains in a complete remission, now fifteen months after her last dose of bortezomib. The second patient, a 55 year old woman, had undergone surgical fenestration of the renal capsule to allow for drainage of the perinephric fluid into her abdomen. The fluid was produced at such a rate that she required regular paracentesis to remove the resulting ascites. She received 6 cycles of intravenous bortezomib. Her telangiectasias resolved, her serum erythropoietin normalized from a peak of 507 mIU/ml, her paO2 improved, and production of perinephric fluid decreased. However, after four months off treatment, the concentration of her IgG kappa paraprotein began to increase, as did her serum erythropoietin. Furthermore, she has developed pulmonary hypertension, which we suspect may represent a rare paraneoplastic condition seen in some patients with multiple myeloma. The third patient, a 52 year old man, has received ten cycles of intravenous bortezomib. He has tolerated therapy well without side-effects. His serum erythropoietin has decreased from 5500 to 2500 mIU/ml. However, he has not shown the same dramatic reduction in the level of his IgG kappa paraprotein, nor has he shown resolution of his telangiectasias, perinephric fluid, or intrapulmonary shunting. The response of the fourth patient to bortezomib was recently described as a letter to the editor in the New England Journal of Medicine. The fifth patient, a 49 year old woman, was referred for evaluation of unexplained and progressive hypoxia requiring the use of continuous supplemental oxygen. She had been diagnosed at age 34 with polycythemia vera and treated with periodic phlebotomy. Telangiectasias were present on the face, chest, abdomen, and back. Erythropoietin was elevated to >8000 mIU/ml and an IgG-kappa paraprotein was identified. Her cardiovascular shunt fraction was 27%. Given the variable response of the other patients to single-agent bortezomib, she began an induction regimen that included cyoclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) with plans for autologous SCT. The efficacy of treatment with bortezomib, as well as the reversible nature of the symptoms, lends support to the hypothesis that the abnormal plasma cell clone and monoclonal gammopathy are the cause of the TEMPI syndrome. Efforts to identify the antigenic target of the paraprotein are underway, using protein microarray and immunohistochemical techniques. We suspect that more patients with the TEMPI syndrome exist. The constellation of the described pentad should raise the potential of this syndrome. We welcome any reader insights into this unusual condition. Disclosures: Raje: Onyx: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy; Acetylon: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Eli-Lilly: Research Funding. Somer:BioPat Holdings, Inc.: Consultancy. Off Label Use: We use bortezomib in the treatment of a newly described syndrome, the TEMPI syndrome.

Abstract Objectives Given the increased complexity of molecular and cytogenetic testing (MOL-CG), the Society for Hematopathology Education Committee (SH-EC) was interested in determining what the current expectations are for MOL-CG education in hematopathology (HP) fellowship training. Methods The SH-EC sent a questionnaire to HP fellowship program directors (HP-PDs) covering MOL-CG training curricula, test menus, faculty background, teaching, and sign-out roles. These findings were explored via a panel-based discussion at the 2018 SH-EC meeting for HP-PDs. Results HP fellows are expected to understand basic principles, nomenclature, and indications for and limitations of testing. Interpretation of common assays is within that scope, but not necessarily proficiency in technical troubleshooting of testing or analysis of complex raw data. Conclusions The consensus was that HP fellows should understand the components of MOL-CG testing necessary to incorporate those results into an accurate, clinically relevant, and integrated HP report.

Aims Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is divided into paediatric (primary) and adult (secondary) types. While paediatric-HLH has been extensively characterised, similar studies in adults are limited. This study aims to evaluate the significance of the HLH diagnostic criteria as well as other clinical parameters in adults with bone marrow evidence of haemophagocytosis. Methods We conducted a 10-year retrospective search of the pathology archives of two institutions for cases with bone marrow haemophagocytosis. We included those cases that fulfilled the currently established HLH diagnostic criteria. For the 29 cases that met inclusion criteria, we assessed clinical features, co-morbidities, therapy and clinical outcome. The effect of 19 clinical variables on mortality outcomes was assessed using logistic and hazard regression analyses. Results Of cases for which an aetiology could be identified, infectious diseases were the most common association (14 of 19, 74%). Fever and elevated ferritin were the most frequently available criteria used to establish HLH. The overall mortality rate was 61% despite HLH-specific therapy, which had been initiated in 48% of the cases. The remaining cases were treated with supportive therapy and antibiotics. The most statistically significant marker of mortality was an elevated absolute neutrophil count (ANC), a feature not typical of HLH. Conclusions Since elevated ANC correlates with poor outcomes in sepsis, and not HLH, we postulate that many of the patients fulfilling HLH diagnostic criteria in this study likely had sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome rather than HLH. Our results highlight the need to define HLH diagnostic criteria specific to the adult population.

SummaryHighly sensitive flow cytometry studies may incidentally identify B cell clones when used to assess plasma cell clonality in bone marrows. Clinical history, which can help differentiate related clones (low grade B cell lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation/LBCL‐PD) from unrelated ones (plasma cell proliferative disorder (PCPD) with an unrelated B cell clone), is often unavailable in referred specimens. We sought to identify morphologic or phenotypic features that would help predict the significance of these clones in the absence of history. We included only cases with identical light chain B and plasma cell clones, as determined by 6‐color flow cytometry with additional DNA ploidy analysis, in which the relationship between clones could be established by review of medical records. There were 26 cases; 18 were related (14 were Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia) and eight were unrelated (seven multiple myeloma). Features seen exclusively in LBCL‐PD include CD19+/CD45+ clonal plasma cell phenotype (66·7%, P = 0·0022) and morphologic features such as paratrabecular bone marrow involvement, increased mast cells, and plasma cells surrounding B‐cell nodules. Aneuploidy was identified exclusively in PCPD cases (75%, P = 0·000028). We conclude that CD19+/CD45+ clonal plasma cell phenotype and aneuploidy are useful in distinguishing related clones (LBCL‐PD) from unrelated clones (PCPD).

Background. Hepatic endometriosis/uterus-like mass is rare and may be overlooked during hepatic cyst workups. We report a case of uterus-like mass, misdiagnosed as hepatic abscess. Case Report: A 47-year-old woman developed abdominal pain and vomiting. Infectious colitis with hepatic abscess was diagnosed, and remained antibiotic-refractory. Fine-needle aspiration and core biopsies showed benign contents. The patient presented to our institution with symptoms and normal blood work. Laparoscopic excision demonstrated a 1.4-cm cyst composed of endometrial glands (estrogen receptor+ and progesterone receptor+) and stroma (CD10+) with smooth muscle actin (SMA+), arranged in an organoid fashion. The patient, status-post hysterectomy, had no history or symptoms of endometriosis. Conclusion. This rare case illustrates the merit of considering uterus-like mass/endometriosis in the differential diagnosis of antibiotic-refractory hepatic cysts. Cyst heterogeneity may confound needle biopsy. We report the first instance of a hepatic uterus-like mass, with a review of related entities, postulated histogenesis, and important clinical associations.