CASE OF THE MONTH

Russell body gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori infection


Russell body gasritis is an unusual and rare mucosal lesion histologically consisting of localized accumulation of immunoglobulin-containing structures derived from plasma cells. See image at left and below.









Mott cells are plasm cells whose endoplasmic reticulum is filled with Russell bodies.



Interestingly, this case is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. This finding was described in 1998 (Am J Hematol. 2010 Dec;85(12):951-2. doi: 10.1002/ajh.21702.) Russell bodies can be seen in the following conditions: lymphoid malignancies such as myeloma, B cell lymphomas and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Since the presence of H. pylori is usually seen in chronic gastritis, this may imply that Russell body gastritis may have developed in the setting of chronic gastritis.


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