Pulmonary Pathology Society

Click here to see all images

August, 2022
Case of the Month

Clinical History: Fifty-plus year old adult woman admitted from outside institution for interstitial lung disease (ILD) with acute exacerbation (status post VATS wedge biopsy at outside institution with complicated hospital course and ICU admission for worsening acute lung injury/ARDS). Patient had been successfully cannulated and initiated on VV ECMO prior to transfer. Subsequently patient underwent bilateral orthotopic lung transplant (BOLT). No past medical history of any malignancy. No parenchymal or pleural masses or effusions reported on imaging studies. Gross image of native left lung (660 grams) is shown (Figure 1). No nodules, masses or pleural thickening seen on gross examination. Sections from left hilar lymph node are presented for evaluation (Figure 2) and few immunohistochemical stains performed to delineate clusters of cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm seen in lymph node subcapsular sinus (Figure 3).

Q1. Differential diagnoses of these cells in lymph node subcapsular sinus include -

Carcinoma cells
Mesothelioma cells
Melanoma cells
Histiocytes or benign inclusions in lymph nodes
All of the above

Q2. The clinical history, gross findings, histology and immunohistochemical staining results support these cells to be –

Metastatic mesothelioma cells
Metastatic carcinoma cells
Mesothelial cell inclusions in lymph node
None of the above

Q3. The hypotheses proposed to explain the presence of these cells in lymph nodes include

Embryologic remnants
Metaplastic changes
Pleural inflammation/injury resulting in lymphatic dissemination/embolization
All of the above

Answers to Quiz

Q1. E
Q2. C
Q3. C

Diagnosis

Mesothelial cell inclusions in hilar lymph node

Discussion

In this case, clusters of cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with ovoid nuclei and mild pleomorphism were seen in subcapsular and trabecular sinuses of left hilar lymph node. These cells are positive for CK7, CK5/6, calretinin, WT1, and D2-40 with retained BAP1 expression, while being negative for TTF1, p40, MOC31, and BerEP4; thus supporting these to be mesothelial cells. The overall clinical history (negative for prior malignancy), imaging findings, location of these cells in lymph node sinuses, and this immunohistochemical profile, supports the diagnosis of mesothelial cell inclusions in hilar lymph node.

Lymph node inclusions such as benign glandular inclusions, nevus cells, as well as decidua are known to occur in different regional lymph nodes. Mesothelial cell inclusions in mediastinal lymph nodes mimicking metastatic carcinoma was first reported by Brooks et al (1) in two patients with pleural effusions, secondary to presumed infectious etiology and to underlying lymphoma. Though rare, other authors have also reported this occurrence (2-4). Presence of pleural effusion secondary to underlying inflammatory or neoplastic etiologies has been a common finding in these studies. Hence, the hypothesis that pleural inflammation/injury giving rise to pleural effusions disrupt and dislodge these mesothelial cells into the subpleural lymphatic spaces, which are then carried over to mediastinal lymph nodes is favored. However, Rutty et al (2) found no keratin positive cells in 318 mediastinal lymph nodes removed for a variety of reasons, suggesting that this phenomenon has a low prevalence overall; and though benign mesothelial cells may reach the mediastinal lymph nodes, they may not survive for long in most circumstances.

Differential diagnoses considered includes metastatic carcinoma, metastatic mesothelioma, melanoma, as well as sinus histiocytosis and other benign inclusions in lymph nodes. Location of these mesothelial cells in subcapsular, trabecular or medullary sinuses without disrupting the lymph nodal parenchyma and no stromal response are essential morphologic features to favor benign mesothelial cell inclusions, along with clinical history, imaging findings, and immunohistochemical staining results, to rule out the other considerations in differential diagnosis.

References

Mesothelial cell inclusions in mediastinal lymph nodes mimicking metastatic carcinoma. Brooks JS, LiVolsi VA, Pietra GG. Am J Clin Pathol. 1990 Jun;93(6):741-8.

Mesothelial cell inclusions within mediastinal lymph nodes. Rutty GN, Lauder I. Histopathology. 1994 Nov;25(5):483-7.

Embolization of mesothelial cells in lymphatics: the route to mesothelial inclusions in lymph nodes? Suárez Vilela D, Izquierdo García FM. Histopathology. 1998 Dec;33(6):570-5.

Benign mesothelial cells in mediastinal lymph nodes. Parkash V, Vidwans M, Carter D. Am J Surg Pathol. 1999 Oct;23(10):1264-9.

Contributors