Primary Extranodal Lymphomas: A Case Series

Abstract

Primary Extra-Nodal Lymphomas (pENLs) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders. pENLs are mostly Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL), although infrequent case reports of extra-nodal Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) have emerged. The most common sites for pENLs are the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT), Central Nervous System (CNS), and head and neck region. pENLs pose a significant diagnostic challenge due to their unusual locations, a variety of confounding symptoms, and limited data available regarding their progression. Here, we present a case series of five patients of pENL: splenic HL in a 10-year-old boy, splenic NHL in a 65-year-old woman, primary ovarian lymphoma, possibly Burkitt’s lymphoma, in a 22-year-old female, Primary CNS Lymphoma (PCNSL), likely Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), in a 67-year-old male, and a 53-year-old woman diagnosed with Primary Thyroid Lymphoma (PTL). These cases were all encountered in our tertiary care centre, and this series represents one of the first in our population. Thus, a population-specific understanding of pENLs will aid in better comprehending the disease in cases of unusual sites.

Keywords

• burkitt’s lymphoma
• hodgkin
• splenic lymphoma
• thyroid lymphoma