[Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma initially manifested by massive ascites and a small gastric lesion, clinically mimicking primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) in the abdominal cavity: a case report and review of the literature on Japanese PEL patients].
A 50-year-old man was admitted because of increasing massive ascites. While lymphoma cells (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: DLBCL) were detected in the ascites, pleural effusion, cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow, no tumor masses other than a submucosal lymphoma lesion in the stomach only 1 cm in diameter were identified. The patient was treated with chemotherapy including rituximab (R-CHOP-ESHAP) and injection of methotrexate and dexamethasone into the medullary cavity as well as radiation to the whole brain, and achieved complete remission 4 months later. The present case suggests that DLBCL can initially manifest as a form of effusion lymphoma with minimum solid tumor component. The distinctive clinical features of Japanese patients with primary effusion lymphoma are also reviewed.
Department of Internal Medicine, Kanazawa Social Insurance Hospital.
Takahiro
T
Zenda
Kei
K
Tominaga
Syuichi
S
Choto
Toshihide
T
Okada
Syuichi
S
Kaneko
Hiroshi
H
Minato
D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D054685:Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology