Two cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as primary gynecologic malignancies.
BACKGROUND
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) presenting as a gynecologic malignancy is exceedingly rare. We present two cases of NHL presenting as primary ovarian and cervical cancer, respectively.


METHODS
A 66-year-old female presented with abdominal bloating and increased abdominal girth. She underwent a supracervical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and omentectomy for a large pelvic mass. Immunophenotyping/flow cytometry revealed monoclonal B-cells positive for the CD 20 marker, consistent with NHL. A 47-year-old female presented with persistent vaginal discharge and an ulcerative lesion of the cervix. Cervical biopsies were non-diagnostic for carcinoma but immunophenotyping demonstrated CD 20 positive B-cells, consistent with NHL.


CONCLUSIONS
Although uncommon, lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of gynecologic malignancies because of a favorable outcome when properly diagnosed and treated.
Kendrick
James E
JE
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 618 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. tommy.kendrick@obgyn.uab.edu
Straughn
J Michael
JM
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery