Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct clinicopathologic entity demonstrating
lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in the bone marrow, with an IgM monoclonal gammopathy in
the blood. Patients may present with symptoms related to the infiltration of the hematopoietic
tissues or the effects of monoclonal IgM in the blood.
2
The etiology of WM is unknown. No obvious causative or predisposing factor has been
identified; however, certain autoimmune and infectious conditions are associated with
increased risks of subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A few previous studies suggest
that chronic inflammation may particularly elevate the risk of the distinct non-Hodgkin
lymphoma subtype, Waldenström macroglobulinemia. In the largest investigation of WM
risk factors to date, a 2- to 3-fold elevated risk of WM in persons with a history
of autoimmune diseases with autoantibodies and notably elevated risks associated with
hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus, and rickettsiosis were found.7, 8 We report
a case of WM coinciding with the development of heterotopic ossification (HO) in a
reverse total shoulder replacement and dynamic hip screw implant for the treatment
of femoral neck fractures. With acute kidney injury and hypercalcemia signaling the
manifestation of WM shortly after these major surgeries, this is a rare presentation
of a rare hematologic disease.
Case presentation
We present a 79-year-old white man who was independent in all daily living activities,
active and fit.
He presented to the emergency department after a fall from a push bike onto his right
side. A radiograph confirmed fractures of the right head of the humerus and right
neck of the femur.
The patient had a medical history of coronary artery bypass graft in 2002 as well
as hypertension. He was on olmesartan 40 mg once daily and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
100 mg daily, with normal baseline renal function, hemoglobin, and serum electrolytes.
On the next day, the patient underwent a dynamic hip screw procedure as an elective
surgery for the right femoral neck fracture. Ten days later, he underwent a reverse
total shoulder replacement. The patient recovered well from the surgeries, and 2 weeks
postadmission, he transferred from the surgical ward to a rehabilitation ward, where
he was found to have hypercalcemia (corrected calcium: 3.33 mmol/L, normal range [NR]
2.15-2.65); a phosphate level of 1.18 mmol/L (NR 0.75-1.50); a parathyroid hormone
level of 1.6 pmol/L (NR 2.0-8.5 pmol/L); renal function: estimated glomerular filtration
rate, 70 mL/min/1.73 m2, and creatinine, 90 μmol/L (NR 60-110); and a hemoglobin level
of 9.8 g/dL.
On presentation, the corrected calcium level was within normal limits (2.44 mmol/L,
NR 2.15-2.65). We encouraged oral hydration and monitored the calcium levels and parathyroid
hormone levels over the following days; observation showed a gradual decline of the
calcium level to 2.9 mmol/L (NR 2.15-2.65) with near normalization of the parathyroid
hormone level 1.9 pmol/L (NR 2.0-8.5).
The patient continued his rehabilitation program, with a recommendation from the orthopedic
surgeon to continue non-weight-bearing for the right lower limb for at least 6 weeks.
Five weeks postsurgery, on a routine follow-up, a sudden decline in renal function
was detected (estimated glomerular filtration rate 22 mL/min/1.73 m2 and creatinine
238 μmol/L). An urgent ultrasonograph ruled out obstructive uropathy with normal renal
parenchymal differentiation, and there was no offending drug use to blame for the
renal dysfunction. However, the patient's corrected calcium increased again to 3.7
mmol/L, and his hemoglobin dropped to 8.4 g/dL from a baseline of 11 g/dL.
The triad of hypercalcemia, anemia, and renal dysfunction prompted the workup for
multiple myeloma, supported by the result of the albumin/globulin inverse ratio on
the day of presentation to the emergency department (31/39 g/L).
The patient's renal function normalized with the use of hydration and calcitonin for
the first 48 hours, followed by denosumab (Fig. 1). While awaiting serum protein electrophoresis,
we obtained the following results: erythrocyte sedimentation rate 112 mm/h, beta 2
microglobulin 8 g/L, plasma viscosity 1.43 mPa·s (NR 1.10-1.38). The radiographic
skeletal survey did not show any significant abnormalities. Additionally, no abnormality
was detected on a computed tomography of the brain, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis;
there was no bone lesion or lymph node enlargement.
Figure 1
Investigations results.
The serum protein electrophoresis result showed an IgM kappa spike at 20 g/L, and
a whole body sestamibi study showed widespread, although relatively mild, abnormal
sestamibi uptake throughout the axial skeleton and long bones. The most prominent
sites of involvement were in the left humeral head and left parietal region. The pattern
was consistent with a diffuse infiltrative process.
A bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy showed a markedly hypercellular marrow
with a marked lymphoid infiltrate. Immunohistochemistry showed marked CD20+ nodular
B-cell infiltrates, a mild reactive increase in CD3+ T cells, a pattern of CD5 distribution
similar to CD3, and CYCLIN D1-negativity, and CD138 showed a mild increase in plasma
cells. Plasma cells appeared as single scattered cells in small collections. The total
plasma burden was approximately 5%-8%. In conjunction with the presence of serum paraprotein
(IgM 20 g/L), the morphologic features were consistent with a diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic
lymphoma.
Additionally, 5 weeks post reverse total shoulder replacement, the patient developed
pain and stiffness in his shoulder, with limitation in the range of motion. A follow-up
radiograph showed quite extensive HO (Fig. 2). It is worth mentioning that the serum
cobalt level was nondetectable, and the hepatitis screen was negative as well, bearing
in mind that hepatitis C virus could be a triggering etiologic factor for WM.
Figure 2
Heterotopic ossification—5 weeks post surgery.
This case was discussed at our Oncology Multi-disciplinary Meeting, and we were recommended
to treat the patient with a combination targeted therapy of rituximab and bendamustine.
Before that, the patient had commenced weekly treatments of 20 mg of dexamethasone.
The patient achieved a dramatic improvement with weekly treatments of 20 mg of dexamethasone.
The patient was able to mobilize independently with a 4-wheeled walker. Repeat laboratory
tests revealed that the beta 2 microglobulin level decreased to 5 g/L, the erythrocyte
sedimentation rate was 45 mm/h, and the IgM was 15 g/L. His renal function was maintained
within normal limits, and his calcium level was 2.3 mmol/L. The patient was discharged
to home to await his first cycle of targeted therapy. However, the patient did not
consent to it, so targeted therapy was not initiated.
Seven months following the initial presentation, the patient remained well and off
steroids, a follow-up radiograph showed a slight progression of the HO (Fig. 3). In
addition, the patient maintained an acceptable range of motion with stable IgM (14
g/L), hemoglobin (10.8 g/dL), and corrected Ca (2.4 mmol/L) levels and estimated glomerular
filtration rate (54 mL/min/1.73 m2), on a wait-and-watch policy, with outpatient visits
every 3 months.
Figure 3
Heterotopic ossification—7 months post surgery.
Discussion
In the case reported here, the presentation of WM is unusual because our patient presented
with hypercalcemia 15 days after 2 major orthopedic surgeries. Among all causes of
hypercalcemia, primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy are the most common, accounting
for more than 90% of the cases.
9
Therefore, the diagnostic approach to hypercalcemia typically involves distinguishing
between the two. The initial goal of the laboratory evaluation is to differentiate
parathyroid hormone (PTH)-mediated hypercalcemia (primary hyperparathyroidism and
familial hyperparathyroid syndromes) from non–PTH mediated hypercalcemia (primarily
malignancy, vitamin D intoxication, granulomatous disease). Thus, once hypercalcemia
is confirmed, the next step is the measurement of serum PTH.
The PTH level was below the normal range in our patient. Therefore, we did not initiate
further investigations, as we believed that the hypercalcemia was not an uncommon
finding within the first week following hip and shoulder fractures, and parathyroid
hormone can be suppressed within such a short period, secondary to hypercalcemia
12
; we also took into consideration that the calcium level was normal on presentation,
with normal renal function. Furthermore, the calcium and parathyroid levels started
to normalize by the third week, without intervention.
The complications were more evident by the fifth week postsurgery. The development
of anemia and deterioration of renal function, in addition to the marked increase
of calcium level (above 3.5 mmol/L) after initial improvement, prompted us to exclude
an underlying malignancy as the primary cause of hypercalcemia rather than bone mobilization
by the orthopedic surgeries. Therefore, we sent for a multiple myeloma workup, which,
to our surprise, revealed lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
Lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy and is a cancer of the immune system
developing from B or T lymphocytes.
10
However, the incidence of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma has been estimated at 3 per million
cases per year.
Chronic infection and inflammation trigger an immune system response, which may lead
to the development of lymphoma.
Only a few case reports exist in the literature describing patients with WM with nephropathy.
5
We think the current case is rare in the following 2 ways: (1) acute kidney injury
was the clinical manifestation that led to the diagnosis of WM, which is in itself
a rare event in WM; and (2) hypercalcemia is more often a feature of multiple myeloma
rather than WM.
Another relatively unique issue is the extensive HO that developed surrounding the
proximal right humerus, representing inflammation surrounding the shoulder implant
shortly after surgery. Although there is not enough evidence in the literature to
describe HO around shoulder replacement, it is, however, well known and widely described
in hip replacements 12 weeks postsurgery.
6
The scientific literature is scarce on reporting the incidence of WM post prosthetic
implant, trauma, or surgery; however, there is available evidence suggesting that
breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) develops in the
setting of implant-induced chronic inflammation.1, 4 Also, a traumatic event or surgery
may trigger the balance toward tumor growth as a result of associated angiogenesis,
cytokine, and growth factors release.
11
Several authors have investigated trauma-associated growth of suspected dormant malignancy
and incriminated growth factors, cytokines, and angiogenic mechanisms.
3
A traumatic event triggers several mechanisms of soft tissue and bone repair of which
angiogenesis is part. Dormant cancer cells at the site of tissue trauma and thereby
exposed to pro-inflammatory mediators may be sufficiently stimulated to overcome dormancy.3,
11
In our patient, the event may be explained by the presence of a smoldering WM before
surgery (albumin/globulin inverse ratio 31/39 g/L) that might have been stimulated
by a new environment of stimulatory factors, trauma, major surgeries, and the presence
of the shoulder implant. Moreover, it remains to be defined whether the immune system's
response to inflammation surrounding the shoulder implant may lead to genetic degeneration
and dysplasia in a genetically susceptible patient in the same pathogenesis as that
of a silicone implant.
4
Conclusion
Most traumatic and surgical events in cancer patients do not lead to tumor growth
or activation of dormant disease. However, we suggest that the phenomenon of tumor
growth after trauma or surgery, as well as the immune response from a population of
clonal B cells to a prosthetic implant, deserves further investigation and study.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr Mustafa AL-Musawi, who was directly involved in the care and treatment
of the patient while in hospital.
Disclaimer
The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundations with which they
are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any
commercial entity related to the subject of this article.