Premium
Extra‐nodal lymphoma presenting as a mimic of soft‐tissue sarcoma
Author(s) -
Knowles Brett,
Serpell Jonathan W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1046/j.1445-2197.2003.02613.x
Subject(s) - medicine , soft tissue , lymphoma , biopsy , soft tissue sarcoma , radiation therapy , radiology , sarcoma , differential diagnosis , chemotherapy , pathology , surgery
Background: A variety of soft‐tissue tumours result in soft‐tissue masses, which are all differential diagnoses of soft‐tissue sarcomas. A rare cause is extra‐nodal lymphoma which, unlike a soft‐tissue sarcoma which it mimics, should not be excised, but rather treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to identify clinical, radiological, biopsy and management features of lymphoma when presenting as a soft‐tissue mass. Methods: A review of 17 cases of soft‐tissue lymphoma presenting as a soft‐tissue mass from a total database of 295 soft‐tissue tumours was undertaken. Lymphomas arising in cervical, axillary and inguinal nodes were excluded. Results: All patients presented with a soft‐tissue mass but none had the symptoms of lymphoma. Computed tomography scanning identified seven (54%) of 13 with regional lymphadenopathy, six (46%) of 13 with encasement of major vascular structures and three with invasion across major soft‐tissue boundaries. Core biopsy established a diagnosis in 13 patients (sensitivity 93%). All patients were treated with either chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and all are alive with a mean follow up of 19 months. None underwent major resectional surgery. Conclusion: The present series highlights a rare subgroup of patients with extra‐nodal soft‐tissue lymphoma mimicking soft‐tissue sarcoma. Core biopsy is accurate in their diagnosis. Computed tomography scanning may show features suggesting the diagnosis.