Local ALK-Positive Histiocytosis With Unusual Morphology and Novel TRIM33-ALK Gene Fusion

Abstract

ALK-positive histiocytosis was first described in 2008 as a systemic histiocytic disorder involving young infants and neonates. Subsequently, cases of local ALK-positive histiocytosis as well as clinical presentation in adult patients have been increasingly reported in the literature. The current case documented the hitherto largest local ALK-positive histiocytosis lesion involving the mesentery of a 20-year-old female patient, a clinical presentation that has not been previously reported in the medical literature. Of note was the presence of numerous lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils as well as the formation of lymphoid follicles in the lesion, mimicking an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Other unique histologic aspects of the current case included the nested arrangement of the histiocytes, intravascular extension of the histiocytic proliferation into a large vein, and tumor necrosis. Notably, molecular studies revealed a novel TRIM33 (exon 12) -ALK (exon 20) gene fusion. Therefore, ALK-positive histiocytosis with TRIM33-ALK gene fusion expands the clinical, histologic, and molecular spectrum of local ALK-positive histiocytosis. Since ALK-positive histiocytosis associated with a significant inflammatory component can pose considerable diagnostic challenges, increased awareness of this peculiar variant of ALK-positive histiocytosis is essential to minimize the risk of misdiagnosis.