Challenges in Diagnosing High-grade B-cell Lymphoma, NOS

High-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBCL, NOS), is defined by morphologic features intermediate between Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Lymphomas with a complex 11q aberration or concurrent MYC- and BCL2- or BCL6-rearrangements are excluded from this category. However, the reproducibility of the diagnosis of HGBCL, NOS is unknown to date. Expert hematopathologists of the Lymphoma/Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project reviewed 92 cases submitted as HGBCL, NOS. At least 3/4 hematopathologists reviewing cases independently confirmed the diagnosis in 30/92 (33%) cases, while 13 cases (14%) were reclassified as DLBCL. The remaining 49 cases were jointly reviewed by the consensus panel of 10 to 15 pathologists, confirming an additional 9 HGBCL, NOS. The remaining cases were reclassified as DLBCL or other aggressive B-cell lymphomas or were excluded due to insufficient material. In aggregate, only 39/92 (42%) of initially submitted cases were confirmed as HGBCL, NOS, demonstrating poor interobserver agreement. Interestingly, however, there were no significant differences between the initially submitted cohort and those ultimately confirmed by the pathology review panel concerning dark zone signature (DZsig) expression, frequency of MYC-rearrangements and cell of origin, among others. Despite the finding that pathologists can identify cytomorphological features associated with adverse biological characteristics, the poor reproducibility of high-grade morphology and molecular heterogeneity suggests that HGBCL, NOS does not represent a distinct clinicopathologic entity and that more objective markers of distinct biologic features, such as the DZsig, may better separate cases into relevant diagnostic categories than morphology alone.