Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: Case report of a rare lymphoma and a brief review of the literature

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is an uncommon, intensely aggressive extranodal lymphoma characterized by the proliferation of malignant lymphoid cells within the lumina of small and medium-sized blood vessels, most notably capillaries, while sparing large arteries and veins. The circulating lymphoma cells do not generally appear in peripheral blood, and unlike most other lymphomas, IVLBCL does not often appear as a distinct tumor mass. The most common sites of involvement are the skin, central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, and endocrine glands; lymph node disease is rare. A diagnosis is usually obtained through a biopsy of an affected body organ, most commonly a random skin biopsy and a bone marrow biopsy.

Due to its mixed and uncharacteristic manifestation, IVLBCL is often not diagnosed in time, which further leads to a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 68-year-old male patient with IVLBCL whose diagnosis was late and who consequently developed a fast progression and death despite conventional treatment. The case highlights the difficulty in determining diagnosis and the unfavorable outcomes associated with IVLBCL, particularly in cases involving multiple organs.