Classic Hodgkin lymphoma transformation into composite lymphoma complicated with Guillain‒Barré syndrome after chemotherapy: A case report

Abstract

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma rarely undergoes pathological transformation, and the transformation type is usually common non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This study describes a 71-year-old male diagnosed with stage III classic Hodgkin lymphoma positive for Epstein‒Barr virus. The disease was partially relieved soon after chemotherapy but quickly progressed with transformation into composite lymphoma with a mixture of T and B cells. Then he developed symptoms in his nervous system and was diagnosed with Guillain‒Barré syndrome. EBV remained positive throughout the course of the disease. Classic Hodgkin lymphoma may transform into composite lymphoma, and the composite lymphoma may be complicated with Guillain‒Barré syndrome after chemotherapy. We hypothesized that EBV infection may play a role in the progression of the disease.

Keywords

• Classic Hodgkin lymphoma
• Transformation
• Composite lymphoma
• Guillain‒Barré syndrome
• Epstein‒Barr virus