1.Follicular Lymphoma Presenting as Bilateral Ovarian Masses, Elevated CA-125, and Lymphadenopathies: A Diagnostic Pitfall in Gynecologic Oncology
Karla Mae A. Cruzado ; Al-Zamzam A. Abubakar
Philippine Journal of Pathology 2026;(75th PSP Research Competition Abstracts):1-
Introduction:
Ovarian lymphoma is rare and often misdiagnosed, as its clinical
presentation can be similar to other more frequent tumors. It accounts for <1% of all
non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with high-grade B-cell lymphoma being the most frequently
implicated subtype.
Case Description:
A 48-year-old woman presented with bilateral ovarian masses,
elevated CA-125, and extensive abdominal and thoracic lymphadenopathy. She was
managed as advanced ovarian cancer and underwent TAHBSO. Grossly, both ovaries
were enlarged and nodular. Histology showed a round cell neoplasm composed
predominantly of medium-sized, cleaved lymphocytes, admixed with scattered larger
atypical cells. Initial immunohistochemistry panel demonstrated diffuse CD45 positivity
and negativity for AE1/AE3, Inhibin, SALL4, Desmin, and Calretinin. Subsequently,
CD20 and PAX5 showed diffuse reactivity. CD10, BCL2, and BCL6 highlighted
neoplastic follicles. CD3 was negative. High-grade B-cell lymphoma was considered;
however, the Ki-67 proliferative index was 38%, and c-MYC expression was low (5%). A
final diagnosis of follicular lymphoma involving both ovaries was rendered.
Discussion:
The clinical presentation strongly suggested advanced ovarian carcinoma.
However, histologic and immunophenotypic evaluation established lymphoma. Although
aggressive subtypes are more common in advanced cases, indolent entities such as
follicular lymphoma should also be considered, particularly in resource-limited settings
where delays in diagnosis occur. Distinguishing lymphoma from carcinoma is critical, as
management differs significantly and misclassification may lead to overtreatment.
Conclusion
Recognition of ovarian lymphoma is critical, as accurate diagnosis alters
management and prevents unnecessary radical surgery.
CA-125 Antigen
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Lymphoma, Follicular
;
Ovarian Neoplasms
2.OX40 ligand promotes follicular helper T cell differentiation and development in mice with immune thrombocytopenia.
Ziyin YANG ; Lei HAI ; Xiaoyu CHEN ; Siwen WU ; Yan LV ; Dawei CUI ; Jue XIE
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(3):240-253
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a hemorrhagic autoimmune disease characterized by antibody-mediated platelet injury. ITP has complicated immunopathological mechanisms that need further elucidation. It is well known that the costimulatory molecules OX40 ligand (OX40L) and OX40 play essential roles in the immunological mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. Previously, we discovered that the expression of OX40L and OX40 is significantly increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of ITP patients. In our present study, OX40L-induced follicular helper T (Tfh) cells exhibited an activated phenotype with elevated expression of inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (CD40L) in vitro. Moreover, aberrant OX40L‒OX40 expression might promote the Tfh1-to-Tfh2 shift in vivo, inducing the generation of autoantibodies by enhancing the helper function of Tfh cells for B lymphocytes in a mouse model, which might accelerate the progression of ITP. Additionally, signal transduction through the OX40L‒OX40 axis might be related to the activation of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)‒nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Janus kinase (JAK)‒signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways. Overall, OX40L‒OX40 signaling is proposed as a potential novel therapeutic target for ITP.
Animals
;
OX40 Ligand/physiology*
;
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/immunology*
;
Cell Differentiation
;
Mice
;
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/cytology*
;
T Follicular Helper Cells/cytology*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Receptors, OX40
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Humans
;
Female
3.Decreased neurotensin induces ovulatory dysfunction via the NTSR1/ERK/EGR1 axis in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Dongshuang WANG ; Meiling ZHANG ; Wang-Sheng WANG ; Weiwei CHU ; Junyu ZHAI ; Yun SUN ; Zi-Jiang CHEN ; Yanzhi DU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(1):149-169
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the predominant cause of subfertility in reproductive-aged women; however, its pathophysiology remains unknown. Neurotensin (NTS) is a member of the gut-brain peptide family and is involved in ovulation; its relationship with PCOS is unclear. Here, we found that NTS expression in ovarian granulosa cells and follicular fluids was markedly decreased in patients with PCOS. In the in vitro culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes, the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) antagonist SR48692 blocked cumulus expansion and oocyte meiotic maturation by inhibiting metabolic cooperation and damaging the mitochondrial structure in oocytes and surrounding cumulus cells. Furthermore, the ERK1/2-early growth response 1 pathway was found to be a key downstream mediator of NTS/NTSR1 in the ovulatory process. Animal studies showed that in vivo injection of SR48692 in mice reduced ovulation efficiency and contributed to irregular estrus cycles and polycystic ovary morphology. By contrast, NTS partially ameliorated the ovarian abnormalities in mice with dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS. Our findings highlighted the critical role of NTS reduction and consequent abnormal NTSR1 signaling in the ovulatory dysfunction of PCOS, suggesting a potential strategy for PCOS treatment.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/physiopathology*
;
Female
;
Animals
;
Neurotensin/metabolism*
;
Receptors, Neurotensin/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Mice
;
Ovulation/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Granulosa Cells/metabolism*
;
Adult
;
Oocytes/metabolism*
;
MAP Kinase Signaling System
;
Signal Transduction
;
Follicular Fluid/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/analogs & derivatives*
4.Triple primary malignancy (synchronous papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas and diffuse B-Cell lymphoma of the submandibular Gland and Cervical Lymph Nodes) in a 70-year-old woman
Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;40(Supplement):36-40
OBJECTIVES
To report a case of triple primary malignant neoplasms in a 70-year-old woman diagnosed with follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma and diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the right submandibular gland and cervical lymph nodes.
METHODSDesign:Case Report
Setting:Tertiary Government Training Hospital
Patient: One
RESULTSA 70- year-old woman presented with a four-year history of gradually enlarging anterior neck mass, associated with a right submandibular mass and neck nodes for one year. The gradual progression of her symptoms made the patient think that it was a benign condition. This led to a delay in medical consultation. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy with functional neck dissection of the ipsilateral right neck. Histopathology revealed simultaneous follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma, and diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the cervical lymph nodes. The patient was referred to medical oncology and nuclear medicine for further management.
CONCLUSIONOur patient was incidentally diagnosed with follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma and diffuse B cell lymphoma of the cervical lymph nodes after surgery. Such triple primary malignant neoplasms in a single individual are rare, and as in our case, may only be diagnosed in hindsight.
Human ; Female ; Aged: 65-79 Yrs Old ; Carcinoma ; B-lymphocytes ; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Neoplasms ; Submandibular Gland ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma, B-cell ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary ; Thyroidectomy
5.MOR106 alleviates inflammation in mice with atopic dermatitis by blocking the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inhibiting IL-17C-mediated Tfh cell differentiation.
Limin TIAN ; Xiaohui HUYAN ; Sen YANG ; Mengjie WANG ; Yuenan YANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2024;40(1):26-32
Objective To explore the significance of interleukin-17C(IL-17C)-mediated follicular helper T cell (Tfh) differentiation in atopic dermatitis (AD) model. Methods BALB/c mice were divided into control group, AD model group, low-dose MOR106 (anti-IL-17C huIgG1)(MDR106-L)treatment group and high-dose MOR106 (MOR106-H) treatment group, 8 mice in each group. Except for the control group, all the other groups were treated with 2, 4- dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to establish AD models. The low-dose and high-dose MOR106 groups were treated with 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg MOR106 respectively. The differentiation of Tfh cell subsets in peripheral blood of mice was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(JAK2/STAT3) signal pathway protein in skin tissue was detected by Western blot analysis. Results Compared with the control group, the dermatitis severity score, mass difference between two ears, spleen mass and spleen index of DNCB group increased significantly, while those of MOR106-L group and MOR106-H group decreased significantly. Compared with the control group, the Tfh subgroup of AD mice showed deregulated differentiation, resulting in a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+CXCR5+IFN-γ+Tfh1 cells, CD4+CXCR5+IL-17A+Tfh17 and CD4+CXCR5+IL-21+Tfh21 cells, and a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4+CXCR5+IL-10+Tfh10 cells and CD4+CXCR5+FOXP3+Tfr cells in peripheral blood. The protein levels of phosphorylated JAK2(p-JAK2) and p-STAT3 were significantly increased. MOR106 effectively reversed these changes of Tfh1, Tfh10, Tfh17, Tfh21 and Tfr cells in peripheral blood of AD mice. Compared with AD group, the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein in low-dose and high-dose MOR106 treatment groups decreased significantly. Conclusion MOR106 can reduce the inflammatory response of AD mice by blocking JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inhibiting the differentiation of Tfh cells mediated by IL-17C.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy*
;
Interleukin-17
;
T Follicular Helper Cells
;
Janus Kinase 2
;
Dinitrochlorobenzene
;
Inflammation
;
Cell Differentiation
;
Signal Transduction
6.Rare metastatic primary intra-abdominal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma poorly responsive to chemotherapy: A case report
Leah Anne E. Legaspi ; Mary Ondinee-Igot ; Gracieux Fernando
Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;62(1):308-313
Background:
Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) accounts for about 0.4% of soft tissue sarcomas. Approximately onethird of cases occur in extranodal sites and about 28% of extranodal FDCS may metastasize. Intra-abdominal occurrence is
rare and there is limited published data to guide oncologists on how to best treat this malignancy.
Case Presentation:
This is a case of a 33-year-old female who came in due to incidental finding of a left supraclavicular
mass with 2-year history of early satiety. Neck node biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated malignant tumor with positive
staining for CD21, CD23, vimentin and S100 consistent with FDCS. PET-CT revealed an intensely FDG-avid large mass in
the left upper abdomen with signs of necrosis and mass effect. The patient was given three different chemotherapy
regimens that included (1) gemcitabine/docetaxel, (2) single agent doxorubicin and (3) ifosfamide/etoposide, but she
progressed on all these. Off-label use of bendamustine was then offered and after just the first cycle, the patient reportedly
regained strength and was able to get up from wheelchair with noted interval decrease in size of the cervical mass.
Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated and succumbed to infection and multiple pulmonary embolisms.
Conclusion
Intra-abdominal FDCS is a rare malignancy with heterogenous outcomes with no uniform treatment strategy
at present. Molecular tumor board discussion and multi-disciplinary approach in extranodal FDCS is important in the
diagnosis and management. Patients with multiple poor prognostic factors are at risk for tumor recurrence, metastasis, and
death.
Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular
;
Abdominal Neoplasms
;
Drug Therapy
;
Bendamustine Hydrochloride
;
Prognosis
7.Synchronous primary head and neck tumors: Follicular thyroid carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil
Princess B. Maristela ; Emmanuel Tadeus S. Cruz
Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;39(1):49-52
Simultaneously occurring malignancies may be detected in different organs or tissues at any given time. Patients diagnosed with a tumor may be found to have another tumor or second primary cancer. Second primary cancers (SPCs) may be further classified as synchronous or metachronous. Synchronous SPCs are lesions detected simultaneously or within 6 months after the diagnosis of the primary tumor while metachronous SPCs are tumors diagnosed 6 months after primary tumor diagnosis.1There is an increased risk of having second primary cancer in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.1 In a study by Strojan et al. in 2013, among 2,106 head and neck cancer patients, 2.4% developed synchronous second primary cancers.2 A systematic review by Coco-Pelaz et al. in 2020, showed that second primary tumors most frequently occur in the head and neck area followed by the lungs and esophagus.3We present a case of follicular thyroid carcinoma with an incidental finding of cervical lymph-node metastatic squamous cell carcinoma from the tonsil and discuss the clinical presentation, ancillary procedures and management.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular
;
Positron-Emission Tomography
8.Aggressive synchronous papillary and likely follicular thyroid carcinomas in a patient with Graves’ disease
Gerald Sng Gui Ren ; Sarah Tan Ying Tse ; Edwin Chew Jun Chen ; Sangeeta Mantoo ; Chng Chiaw Ling
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2024;39(2):119-123
We report a case of an uncommonly aggressive presentation of the rare entity of synchronous papillary (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC) in a 67-year-old woman initially presenting with thyrotoxicosis from Graves’ disease. She was found to have two thyroid nodules with extensive intra-cardiac tumour thrombus, symptomatic left pelvis bony metastasis with pathological fracture, pulmonary metastases and mediastinal lymph node metastases. Further investigations suggested a diagnosis of synchronous papillary and metastatic follicular thyroid cancer. Treatment with radical surgery followed by adjuvant therapeutic radioiodine ablation was proposed, but the patient declined all forms of cancer-specific therapy and was elected solely for a palliative approach to treatment. We discuss the diagnostic considerations in arriving at the diagnosis of synchronous thyroid malignancy – in this case the clear features of PTC and the strong probability of FTC due to invasiveness and metastatic follicular lesions. This case underscores potential limitations of the ACR TI-RADS system, notably with certain ultrasonographic features suggesting malignancy that might not be adequately captured. Notably, the aggressive presentation of DTC in this case may be contributed by the concurrent presence of Graves’ Disease, suggesting heightened vigilance when assessing potential thyroid malignancies in such patients.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
;
Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
;
Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma
;
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular
;
Graves Disease
9.Mechanism of programmed cell death in follicular atresia.
Xin WANG ; Yi-Long JIANG ; Ze-Long WANG ; Bo KANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2023;75(1):82-90
Apoptosis and autophagy of follicular granulosa cells play an important regulatory role in the process of ovarian follicular atresia in animals. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis and pyroptosis are also involved in the process of ovarian follicular atresia. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Studies have confirmed that autophagy- and apoptosis-mediated follicular atresia also have typical characteristics of ferroptosis. Pyroptosis is a pro-inflammatory cell death dependent on Gasdermin protein, which can regulate ovarian reproductive performance by regulating follicular granulosa cells. This article reviews the roles and mechanisms of several types of programmed cell death independently or interactively regulating follicular atresia, in order to expand the theoretical research on follicular atresia mechanism and provide the theoretical reference for the mechanism of programmed cell death-induced follicular atresia.
Female
;
Animals
;
Follicular Atresia
;
Apoptosis
;
Cell Death
;
Ferroptosis
;
Pyroptosis


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail