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2021, Volume 37, Number 1, Page(s) 063-066
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DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2020.01500
IgG4-Related Disease of the Ovary
Sevda AKYOL, Fatma ÖZ ATALAY, Secil HASDEMIR, Ömer YERCI
Department of Pathology, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, BURSA, TURKEY
Keywords: IgG4-related disease, Ovary, Fibrosis, Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration
Abstract
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is characterized by dense fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration that contains abundant IgG4 positive plasma cells. It causes tumefactive lesions in the involved organs and is most commonly seen in the salivary glands, pancreas, and retroperitoneum. Ovarian involvement has been reported in only two cases. In our case, a 58-year-old female patient presented with abdominal distention and pain. Pelvic computed tomography revealed a soft tissue lesion compatible with the omental cake, several intraabdominal implants, and bilateral adnexal fullness. A laparotomy was performed under suspicion of peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to bilateral adnexal mass. In the histopathologic examination, abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and dense fibrosis were observed in both ovaries and the peritoneum. In the areas of greatest density, the density of IgG4-positive plasma cells was found to range from 40 to 50 per high-power field. The patient was accepted as suffering from probable IgG4-related disease because of the bilateral involvement of the ovaries and the histopathological findings. In conclusion, we present this case to draw attention to the fact that IgG4-related disease can also be seen in the ovary.
Introduction
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is characterized by dense fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration that contains abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells 1. IgG4-RD was first identified in the pancreas as autoimmune pancreatitis 2. Later, lesions similar to those of the pancreas were defined in many organs, including the bile ducts, gallbladder, lymph nodes, retroperitoneum, mesentery, breasts, prostate gland, and skin 3-8. However, IgG4-RD in the female genital tract has been reported in very few cases 9-11.

In this case report, we present probable IgG4-RD involving the bilateral ovaries in which a bilateral ovarian mass together with peritoneal and omental involvement mimicked advanced ovarian cancer.

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  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Case Presentation
  • Disscussion
  • References
  • Case Presentation
    A 58-year-old female patient presented with abdominal distention and pain and underwent further investigations after a pelvic mass was detected at an external center. Ultrasonography (USG) revealed mass lesions on both ovaries; the mass on the right ovary was 4 × 3.5 cm, and the mass on the left ovary was 4.2 × 2.7 cm. The largest metastatic nodule in the omentum was 5.4 × 4.2 cm. Pelvic computed tomography (CT) showed a 15-cm long, 3-cm thick soft tissue lesion compatible with the omental cake, several intraabdominal implants suggesting increases in nodular thickness, bilateral adnexal fullness, and pelvic peritoneal implants (Figure 1). As a result of these radiological findings, peritoneal carcinomatosis was considered, and the patient underwent hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to the adnexal mass. The patient’s blood values were normal, and only CA125 was high (72 U/mL) among the tumor markers.


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    Figure 1: Axial computed tomography images of the pelvis.

    When the tissues were examined in frozen section, it was observed that the lesion contained intense fibrosis. Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis was considered in the differential diagnosis due to the diffuse peritoneal involvement. Although a benign lesion was considered first, the final diagnosis was left to examination of the permanent sections.

    Macroscopic examination of the specimen showed areas of gray-white discoloration, the largest of which was 3 × 2.5 cm in diameter, on the anterior-posterior wall of the uterus and around the right and left tuba uterina. The right ovary was 3.5 cm in diameter, and the left ovary was 4 cm in diameter; the cross-sectional surfaces were irregular. Also, multiple intraabdominal serosal implants were located on the intestine and the appendix and in the right and left paracolic regions.

    On microscopic examination, intense fibrosis in an occasional storiform pattern was seen in both ovaries and peritoneal implants. Significant lymphoid follicles and intense lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory cell infiltration on the fibrotic ground were noteworthy. An immunohistochemical study determined the density of IgG4-positive cells. In a high power field (HPF), 40 to 50 IgG4 positive cells were found in the area of greatest density. The IgG4+/ IgG+ cell ratio was more than 40% (Figure 2AD). In conclusion, the patient was accepted as probable with IgG4-RD because of the bilateral involvement of the ovaries and the histopathological findings.

    Blood samples taken for IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were within normal limits three weeks after the patient’s operation. No additional treatment was given to the patient following the operation.


    Click Here to Zoom
    Figure 2: A) Dense fibrosis (H&E; x400). B) A dense parenchymal lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate (H&E; x400). C) Immunohistochemical study showing the density of IgG4 positive cells. It ranged from 40 to 50 IgG4 positive cells per HPF (IHC; x400). D) Immunohistochemical study showing the density of IgG positive cells (IHC; x400).

  • Top
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Case Presentation
  • Disscussion
  • References
  • Discussion
    IgG4-RD is a relatively recently defined systemic fibroinflammatory process 12. It was first reported in the pancreas in 2001 2. Since then, it has been identified in many organs in the body.

    When diagnosing IgG4-RD, clinical, serological, and histopathological features are evaluated. IgG4-RD can affect a single organ or multiple organ systems and can be found bilaterally in organs, and an increase in the size of the affected organs or impairment of organ functions occurs 13. Among the serological findings, the serum IgG4 concentration is expected to be >135 mg/dl; however, the serum IgG4 level did not increase in half of the reported cases 14. Besides, the serum IgG4 level may also be high in patients with chronic diseases and certain malignancies 15. The major histopathological findings of IgG4-RD include lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration is rich in IgG4 + plasma cells and often eosinophil leukocytes 12. More than 10 IgG4 positive cells are present in the HPF of the biopsy samples, and the IgG4+/IgG+ cell ratio is more than 40%.

    If these three criteria are met, the diagnosis of IgG4-RD is definitive. Patients who meet only one of the serological or histopathological criteria and have organ symptoms probably have IgG4-RD. Patients with organ symptoms who do not meet the serological or histopathological criteria are unlikely to have IgG4-RD 13.

    There are very few cases of IgG4-RD with ovarian involvement in the literature. In our case, bilateral ovarian enlargement was accompanied by peritoneal and omental implants as in the case reported by Maruyama 10. In a case reported by Sekulic, the ovarian involvement was unilateral 11. With these clinical findings, the preliminary diagnosis was advanced ovarian malignancy in both our case and Maruyama’s case 10.

    In our case, IgG4 levels were within normal limits in the blood samples taken three weeks postoperatively. In Maruyama’s reported case, serum IgG4 concentration was 1,000 mg/dL on day seven postoperatively, and in Sekulic’s reported case, serum IgG4 concentration was not determined 10,11.

    Histopathologically, intense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was observed in all three ovarian IgG4-RD cases. In Sekulic’s case, the inflammation was reported to be rich in eosinophils 11. In our case, there was intense fibrosis, whereas only Maruyama among the other two cases emphasized fibrosis 10. We did not find phlebitis in our case, but phlebitis was seen in the other two cases 10,11. The number of IgG4-positive cells required for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD varies with the organ involved 12. In Maruyama’s reported case, more than 90% of the plasma cells in the HPF showed positive staining immunohistochemically with IgG4 10. In Sekulic’s reported case, immunohistochemically 40 to 50 IgG4- positive cells were found per HPF, similar to our case 11.

    In terms of histopathological features, multiple myeloma, lymphoproliferative diseases, spindle cell mesenchymal neoplasms, multicentric Castleman disease, and infections should be considered in the differential diagnosis of IgG4- RD. Therefore, when examining a sample with IgG4-RDlike histology, its clinical history should be considered. The evaluation of IgG4-RD in frozen section may also be difficult due to pronounced fibrosis. Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis can be considered in the differential diagnosis in frozen evaluation.

    In our case, luteinized thecoma associated with sclerosing peritonitis was also included in the differential diagnosis due to the bilateral ovarian and peritoneal involvement. However, the absence of luteinized cells and the presence of intense lymphoplasmacytic inflammation with storiform fibrosis ruled out this disease.

    In conclusion, we reported the third case of ovarian IgG4- RD. In histopathological examinations, IgG4-RD, although very rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly if marked lymphoplasmacytic inflammation with storiform fibrosis is observed in ovary. IgG4-RD responds well to prednisone therapy, which increases the importance of a correct diagnosis. Correct diagnosis also prevents unnecessary surgical interventions.

    CONFLICT of INTEREST
    The authors declare no conflict of interest.

    AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS
    All authors contributed to titles such as concept, design, data collection or processing, analysis or interpretation, literature review, writing, approval.

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  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Case Presentation
  • Discussion
  • References
  • References

    1) Stone JH, Zen Y, Deshpande V. IgG4-related disease. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:539-51.

    2) Hamano H, Kawa S, Horiuchi A,Unno H, Furuya N, Akamatsu T, Fukushima M, Nikaido T, Nakayama K, Usuda N, Kiyosawa K. High Serum IgG4 concentrations in patients with sclerosing pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:732-8.

    3) Zen Y, Harada K, Sasaki M, Sato Y, Tsuneyama K, Haratake J, Kurumaya H, Katayanagi K, Masuda S, Niwa H, Morimoto H, Miwa A, Uchiyama A, Portmann BC, Nakanuma Y. IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis with and without hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor, and sclerosing pancreatitis-associated sclerosing cholangitis: Do they belong to a spectrum of sclerosing pancreatitis? Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;28:1193-203.

    4) Cheuk W, Yuen HK, Chu SY, Chiu EK, Lam LK, Chan JK. Lymphadenopathy of IgG4 related sclerosing disease. Am J Surg Pathol. 2008;32:671-81.

    5) Zen Y, Onodera M, Inoue D, Kitao A, Matsui O, Nohara T, Namiki M, Kasashima S, Kawashima A, Matsumoto Y, Katayanagi K, Murata T, Ishizawa S, Hosaka N, Kuriki K, Nakanuma Y. Retroperitoneal fibrosis: A clinicopathologic study with respect to immunoglobulin G4. Am J SurgPathol. 2009;33:1833-9.

    6) Chen TS, Montgomery EA. Are tumefactive lesions classified as sclerosing mesenteritis a subset of IgG4-related sclerosing disorders? J Clin Pathol. 2008;6:1093-7.

    7) Kitagawa S, Zen Y, Harada K, Sasaki M, Sato Y, Minato H, Watanabe K, Kurumaya H, Katayanagi K, Masuda S, Niwa H, Tsuneyama K, Saito K, Haratake J, Takagawa K, Nakanuma Y. Abundant IgG4- positive plasma cell infiltration characterizes chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (Küttner’s tumor). Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29:783-91.

    8) Hennessey JV. Riedel’s thyroiditis: A clinical review. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:3031-41.

    9) Ohkubo H, Miyazaki M, Oguri T, Arakawa A, Kobashi Y, Niimi A. A rare case of IgG4-related disease involving the uterus. Rheumatology. 2015;54:1124-5.

    10) Maruyama S, Sato Y, Taga A, Emoto I, Shirase T, Haga H. Immunoglobulin G4-related disease presenting as bilateral ovarian masses and mimicking advanced ovarian cancer. J Obstet Gynaecol Res.2016;42:103-8.

    11) Sekulic M, Sekulic SP, Movahedi-Lankarani S. IgG4-related disease of the ovary: A first description. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2016;36:190-4.

    12) Deshpande V, Zen Y, Chan JK, Yi EE, Sato Y, Yoshino T, Klöppel G, Heathcote JG, Khosroshahi A, Ferry JA, Aalberse RC, Bloch DB, Brugge WR, Bateman AC, Carruthers MN, Chari ST, Cheuk W, Cornell LD, Fernandez-Del Castillo C, Forcione DG, Hamilos DL, Kamisawa T, Kasashima S, Kawa S, Kawano M, Lauwers GY, Masaki Y, Nakanuma Y, Notohara K, Okazaki K, Ryu JK, Saeki T, Sahani DV, Smyrk TC, Stone JR, Takahira M, Webster GJ, Yamamoto M, Zamboni G, Umehara H, Stone JH. Consensus statement on the pathology of IgG4-related disease. Mod Pathol. 2012;25:1181-92.

    13) Umehara H, Okazaki K, Masaki Y, Kawano M, Yamamoto M, Saeki T, Matsui S, Yoshino T, Nakamura S, Kawa S, Hamano H, Kamisawa T, Shimosegawa T, Shimatsu A, Nakamura S, Ito T, Notohara K, Sumida T, Tanaka Y, Mimori T, Chiba T, Mishima M, Hibi T, Tsubouchi H, Inui K, Ohara H. Comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Modern Rheumatology.2011;22:1,21-30.

    14) Martinez-Valle F, Orozco-Galvez O, Fernandez-Codina A. Update in ethiopathogeny, diagnosis and treatment of the IgG4 related disease. Med Clin. 2018;151:18-25.

    15) Carruthers MN, Khosroshahi A, Augustin T, Deshpande V, Stone JH. The diagnostic utility of serum IgG4 concentrations in IgG4-related disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74:14-8.

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  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Case Presentation
  • Discussion
  • References

  • Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open-access article published by the Federation of Turkish Pathology Societies under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License that permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. No use, distribution, or reproduction is permitted that does not comply with these terms.

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