Open AccessA case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma: when you hear hoof beats, sometimes consider zebras, not horses
Author(s) -
Mark Andrew Sohatee
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.05.2009.1853
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoma , anaplastic large cell lymphoma , chemotherapy , bone marrow , biopsy , etiology , abdominal pain , lymph node biopsy , bone marrow examination , surgery , radiology , pathology
A 22-year-old man presented with fever, lymphadenopathy and abdominal pain. With a travel history and considering the young age of the patient, an infective aetiology was thought most likely. Investigations yielded no evidence of infection. Given the increasing severity of the symptoms a neoplastic cause was subsequently considered. Following abdominal ultrasound and CT a lymph node and bone marrow biopsy were performed. These investigations revealed the diagnosis to be anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The patient consequently underwent a course of chemotherapy followed by a course of high-dose chemotherapy with an autologous bone marrow transplant.