Küttner's tumor of the sub-mandibular gland associated with fibrosclerosis and follicular hyperplasia of regional lymph nodes: a case report

Küttner's tumor, or sclerosing sialoadenitis, is characterized through histology by peri-ductal fibrosis, dense lymphocytic infiltration with lymphoid follicles, loss of the acini and, occasionally, marked sclerosis of the salivary gland [1]. Here we report a rare case of Küttner's tumor of the sub-mandibular gland associated with regional lymph nodal adenopathy. Histological examination revealed that the architecture of both the sub-mandibular gland and lymph nodes showed marked fibrocollagenous changes and variously sized lymphoid follicle-like nodules with atypical B-cell proliferations. Recently, Küttner's tumor has been regarded as an immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) -related idiopathic sclerosing lesion, a lesion which is frequently associated with regional lymph nodal adenopathy [2]. However, our case had no definitive findings of an IgG4-related idiopathic sclerosing lesion.

The literature reports a few cases of regional lymph nodal adenopathy in Küttner's tumor of the sub-mandibular gland [3]. However, to the best of our knowledge, the present case of broad fibrosclerosing and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia in both the sub-mandibular gland and regional lymph nodes is very rare. We discuss the characteristics and differential diagnostic problems of Küttner's tumor.

A 58-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital with a three-month history of a painless swollen mass in his right sub-mandibular region. Physical examination revealed an elastic hard mass in his right sub-mandibular gland. The gland was not fixed to adjacent tissue. Several enlarged elastic hard movable lymph nodes were palpable in the region. Salivary flow from his right sub-mandibular gland was poor. Our patient had a history of a recurrent gastric ulcer from 21 years of age. His laboratory data were in the normal range except for lactate dehydrogenase (214 U/L; normal range: 105-210 U/L), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (88 U/L; normal range: 11-80 U/L), triglyceride (199 mg/dL; normal range: 42-168 mg/dL), leucine aminopeptidase (83 U/L; normal range: 19-69 U/L), and serum immunoglobulin (IgG, 924 mg/dL; normal range: 870-1700 mg/dL). Regarding the measurement of the serum IgG subclass, only his IgG4 level (16.9 mg/dL; normal range: 4.8-105 mg/dL) was evaluated with the consent of our patient. Other serological data regarding the Ig levels and auto-antibodies were not evaluated.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck revealed a 2.8 × 2.8 cm homogeneously hyper-dense enhanced mass in the right side of his neck which invasively extended to the tissue of his sub-mandibular gland. Several enlarged lymph nodes were enhanced. In the sub-mandibular region, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 3.0 × 3.0 × 4.0 cm mass with hypointensity on fat-saturated T1-weighted images, and heterogeneous hyperintensity and mid-hyperintensity on gadolinium-enhanced and fat-saturated T2-weighted images, respectively (Figure 1). Positron emission tomography showed an area of high uptake in the same region. No other uptake lesions were detected. The clinical and radiological appearance suggested a diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the sub-mandibular gland and metastatic spread from a malignant tumor. Reactive follicular hyperplasia was found on an excisional lymph node biopsy at level II. CD45 gating for routine flow cytometric analysis revealed 40.1% and 27.1% of kappa and lambda light chain expressing cells, respectively.

His right sub-mandibular gland was completely excised along with lymph nodes in the sub-mandibular region. Our patient has been well and there have been no marked changes in his condition at 16 months post-operatively.

Pathological and immunohistological findings The sub-mandibular gland: The cut surface of the surgical specimen showed a solid, yellowish tumor occupying the sub-mandibular gland space (Figure 2). At low magnification, marked parenchymal loss with severe fibrocollagenous changes and numerous inflammatory cells were noted (Figure 3). At higher magnification, scattered lymphocytes, eosinophils and plasma cells were observed in the peri-ductal fibrosis area (Figure 4). A few foreign body cells were noted in necrotic tissue (Figure 5). No EBER-positive cells were seen, and no acid-fast bacilli were detected by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. No lympho-epithelial lesions were detected. In the fibrosis area, small and large-sized lymphoid follicle-like nodular lymphocytic proliferations were observed (Figure 6). Paraffin-embedded tissue sections, fixed in formalin, were stained with the antibodies listed in Table 1. An lmmunohistochemical study revealed that the lymphoid follicle-like nodular lesions were occupied by small round to oval shaped lymphocytes. These cells tested positive for CD20 and Bcl-2 (Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9), and negative for CD3, CD5, CD10 and cyclinD1. IgG4-positive plasma cells infiltration was observed. On a highly magnified slide checked at five points, 30% of IgG positive plasma cells expressed IgG4 (Figure 10, Figure 11).

The lymph nodes: The lymph node architecture was replaced by prominent fibrocollagenous tissue with scattered lymphocytes and plasma cells. Except for lymphoid follicles with a reactive germinal center, small and large-sized lymphoid follicle-like lymphocytic proliferations were observed. These nodular lesions lacked a definitive germinal center and mantle zone (Figure 12), and were occupied by small round to oval cell lymphocytes (Figure 13). These cells were positive for CD20 and Bcl-2, and negative for CD3, CD5, CD10 and cyclinD1.

The histological and cytological features of Küttner's tumor show various characteristics, according to stage in the progressive process and severity of inflammation [1]. According to Seifert [1], Küttner's tumor may evolve through four different histological stages as follows:

Our case corresponded to stage 4. The morphological and histological findings presented important differential diagnostic problems between the sclerosing variant of follicular lymphoma involving the sub-mandibular glands, and Küttner's tumor associated with lymphoid hyperplasia of the regional lymph nodes. In the former, lymphoid follicles are separated by bands of collagenized stroma and are composed of relatively poorly defined germinal centers, with a narrow mantle zone. Immunohistochemical study reveals the presence of monoclonal B cells, CD10 and Bcl-2 positivity [4]. Non-neoplastic reactive germinal centers contain variously sized cells such as centrocyte-like and centroblast-like, medium-sized lymphocytes, and Bcl-2 is expressed in the mantle cells [5]. In non-neoplastic germinal center cells, Bcl-2 is absent [6]. In our case, however, B-cells of similar size and shape occupied the lymphoid follicle-like nodules and stained positive for Bcl-2. These findings therefore suggested unusual B-cell proliferation. Indeed, unusual B-cells were detected as polyclonal B-cells by flow cytometric analysis in our case, and were negative for CD10.

We interpret the morphological and immunophenotypic features of lymphoid follicle-like nodules of our case to be similar to follicular hyperplasia, which is characterized by the presence of progressive transformation of the germinal centers. In such progressive transformation, it is thought that small mantle B-lymphocytes invade and sequentially replace the reactive germinal centers and, as a result, the follicle has no evident mantle zone [5] and the follicular center cells express Bcl-2 [7].

The typical findings of extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) were not detected in our case. Some cases of Küttner's tumor need to be distinguished from MALT lymphoma, where the neoplastic cells are post-germinal center B-cell lymphocytes, which are slightly larger than normal small lymphocytes and have a centrocyte-like or monocytoid appearance. Some hyperplastic ductal epithelium persists and is permeated by neoplastic lymphocytes, so-called lympho-epithelial lesions [8].

Although unusual B-cell proliferation was seen in our case, no definite evidence of B-cell lymphoma was found and so the lesion was diagnosed as Küttner's tumor associated with fibrosclerosis and follicular hyperplasia of the regional lymph nodes. Some case reports of lymphomas with a background of autoimmune disease or chronic inflammation appear in the literature [9‐11]. The consent of our patient was not received for additional testing, such as a southern blot, which made it difficult to investigate all the diagnostic problems in detail. However, we have strictly structured follow-up in order to monitor whether our patient shows neoplastic transformation; he has been well to date with no recurrence.

Our case showed cervical lymphadenopathy, therefore sarcoidosis [12], tuberculosis [13, 14], Kimura's disease and plasma cell type of Castleman's disease [3] needed to be excluded in differential diagnosis. We did not detect multiple intra-glandular non-caseating granuloma as appears in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. There were also no findings indicative of Kimura's disease, namely, eosinophilic lymphofolliculoid granuloma with lymphoid hyperplasia, remarkable infiltration of eosinophils and proliferation of capillaries [15]. The clinical and pathological findings also enabled us to exclude plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. Bowne et al. note that the diagnosis must be considered in the appropriate clinical setting only after the more common causes of lymphoid adenopathy have been investigated and excluded, because patients with Castleman's disease frequently show systemic symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings such as anemia, fever, fatigue, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia [16].

Kitagawa et al. suggested that dense infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells detected in the salivary glands with sclerosing sialadenitis is indicative of Küttner's tumor [2]. Patients with an IgG4-related idiopathic sclerosing lesion frequently have regional lymph adenopathy [1‐3]. In Japan, diagnosis of IgG4-related disease is defined by both elevated serum IgG4 (>135 mg/dl) and histopathological features including lymphocyte and IgG4(+) plasma cell infiltration (IgG4(+) plasma cells/IgG(+) plasma cells >50% on a highly-magnified slide checked at five points). Our case did not meet these criteria. Kojima et al. suggested that a possible relationship between IgG4-related idiopathic sclerosing lesion and lymph nodal adenopathy has been rarely discussed because little is known about the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings [3].

In our case, marked fibrosclerosis was observed in both the sub-mandibular gland and regional lymph nodes. We could not detect a definitive diagnostic factor. Further studies are needed to clarify the etiology of idiopathic sclerosing lesion associated with a lymphoid lesion arising in both the sub-mandibular gland and regional lymph nodes.

We have reported a rare case of Küttner's tumor associated with fibrosclerosis and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia in both the sub-mandibular gland and regional lymph nodes. To clarify the pathogenic mechanism of such idiopathic sclerosing lesions, more cases need to be investigated. However, our information might be helpful to further studies seeking to clarify the etiology of idiopathic sclerosing lesions arising in the organs and regional lymph nodes.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.