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Lymphoma of the terminal ileum

Case contributed by Michael P Hartung
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

History of C. difficile colitis and abdominal pain.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female

Mushroom-shaped soft tissue mass (on axial images) at the terminal ileum protruding into the cecal base, with some degree of intussusception. No obstruction. 

Few borderline ileocolic lymph nodes. No other sites of disease. 

Pathology report: 

FINAL DIAGNOSIS:

Colon and terminal ileum, right, hemicolectomy:

  • diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
  • two lymph nodes positive for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Case Discussion

Primary lymphoma of the terminal ileum. The differential for a mass in this location is lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, GIST, and carcinoid tumor. Lymphoma can be slightly favored due the bland, soft-tissue appearance of the mass and lack of adenopathy that would be expected in the setting of adenocarcinoma this size.

It is helpful to at least suggest lymphoma as this patient might be treated with systemic therapy (rather than hemicolectomy) in the absence of obstruction. This patient underwent right hemicolectomy due to symptoms related to intussusception. 

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