A Rare Surprising Cause of Acute Severe Pancreatitis

Abstract

A 39-year-old woman was admitted with clinical, biochemical and imaging features suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Conservative and guideline based management failed to improve her condition. Repeate the imaging, utilizing contrast revealed the progression of extra-pancreatic signs in the absence of pancreatic necrosis, the absence of intra-abdominal fluid collections, enhancing omental and peritoneal deposits and obstructive pancreatitis. A biopsy and histopathological evaluation of the omentum revealed rare anaplastic large cell lymphoma causing obstructive pancreatitis. In patients who present with pancreatitis not responding to conventional treatment and with an atypical disease course, the diagnostic possibility of rare causes of pancreatitis such as obstructive/infiltrative pathology must be thought of.

Keywords

• anaplastic lymphoma
• b-cell lymphoma
• critical care
• multiple organ failures
• pancreatitis