title: Secondary pancreatic involvement by a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis.
abstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. More than 50% of patients have some site of extra-nodal involvement at diagnosis, including the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow. However, a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis is rare. A 57-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and matted lymph nodes in her axilla. She was admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed diffusely enlarged pancreas due to infiltrative neoplasm and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy. Biopsy of the axillary mass revealed a large B-cell lymphoma. The patient was classified as stage IV, based on the Ann Arbor Classification, and as having a high-risk lymphoma, based on the International Prognostic Index. She was started on chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone). Within a week after chemotherapy, the patient's abdominal pain resolved. Follow-up CT scan of the abdomen revealed a marked decrease in the size of the pancreas and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy. A literature search revealed only seven cases of primary involvement of the pancreas in B-cell lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis. However, only one case of secondary pancreatic involvement by B-cell lymphoma presenting as acute pancreatitis has been published. Our case appears to be the second report of such a manifestation. Both cases responded well to chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, FMP: 116, New Haven, CT 06520, United States. wasif.saif@yale.edu
authors.forename: M-Wasif
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Saif
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khubchandani
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walczak
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*