Cytologic features of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm involving liver: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare but clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy, believed to originate from plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) although it possesses multilineage potentials. Due to the dismal prognosis, accurate and rapid diagnosis is critical for early management. The disease usually initially involves skin and bone marrow. Here we report the cytopathologic findings in a case of BPDCN involving the liver in a patient previously diagnosed with BPDCN from skin and lymph node biopsies. The fine‐needle aspiration specimen from the liver lesion demonstrates a hypercellular smear of atypical epithelioid cells dispersed singly or in loose groups. These cells have enlarged, eccentric, round to irregular nuclei with fine chromatin. The agranular gray‐blue cytoplasm shows delicate wispy cytoplasmic extensions and cytoplasmic microvacuoles. Binucleation is common. The concurrent core biopsy shows that the neoplastic plasmacytoid cells with eccentric nuclei were positive for CD4, CD7, CD43, CD56, and CD68, confirming the diagnosis of BPDCN. Mutations of ASXL1 and TET2, classic for BPDCN, and a complex karyotype were detected in skin, bone marrow, and lymph node specimens. We catalog the heterogeneous pathologic features of this rare disease, emphasizing the clinical and histopathological correlation. The differential diagnoses and review of literature are also included. Awareness of this disease and accurate diagnosis are emphasized to aid early management and potentially produce a better clinical outcome.