Spontaneous Regression of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Apoptosis of Lymphoma Cells: A Case Report.

A 61-year-old Japanese woman presented with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) and suffered from intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL). After a few days of supportive care, her condition improved without any anti-cancer drugs or steroids. She experienced recurrences of HPS at 15 mon and 21 mon after first presentation, but lymphoma cells were not observed. Relapse of IVLBCL with pulmonary involvement occurred 27 mon after first presentation. She underwent R-CHOP therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. She is currently alive and without lymphoma. Immunostaining by anti-ssDNA suggested that spontaneous regression may have been due to apoptosis of the lymphoma cells.