A rare case of primary Hodgkin's lymphoma of the pancreas

Abstract

Primary pancreatic lymphoma is an extremely rare entity presenting 2.0% of extranodal malignant lymphomas and 0.5% of all pancreatic masses. We present the case of primary pancreatic Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 62-year-old male, who presented with right hypochondrial pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowish discoloration of skin and sclera, accompanied by generalized itching for 3 weeks without any significant loss of appetite and weight loss. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) showed a reddish bulge in the head of the pancreas due to the growth. EUS-guided biopsy revealed extensive infiltration by dyscohesive lymphoid cells with classic morphology of mononuclear Reed–Sternberg cells, in a background of lymphocytes and eosinophils. This rare report will be of significant diagnostic help to clinicians and pathologists in accurately diagnosing such cases as there is a high likelihood of misinterpreting these as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which may impact patient management and survival.