title: Case report: primary splenic non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: A case of primary splenic lymphoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C is reported. A 69-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C was admitted to Fukuoka City Hospital for evaluation of an enlarging splenic tumour. In the spleen, ultrasonographic examination revealed a hypoechoic tumour and computed tomography demonstrated a non-enhancing low density area measuring 7 cm in diameter; coeliac angiography revealed a hypovascular tumour. Gallium scintigraphy showed uptake of the radioisotope in the splenic tumour. A splenectomy was performed and the morphological and immunohistochemical findings of this tumour were compatible with those of non-Hodgin's B cell lymphoma. Recently, cases of malignant B cell lymphoma associated with hepatitis C virus infection have been reported. Lymphotropism of hepatitis C virus may play a pathological role in the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We emphasize the importance of considering lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of extrahepatic disorders during the course of chronic hepatitis C virus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka City Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiroshige
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itasaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumata
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzumiya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yufu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology