Challenges of Treating a Patient with Autism and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Abstract

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are a rare combination. Diagnosing and treating patients with this combination is challenging. Here, we report the case of a 19-year-old male with ASD and HL. Upon initial presentation to our clinic, the patient was very active with the clinical features of autism. Pathology confirmed stage IVBs HL of the mixed cellularity subtype. He received six cycles of Adriamycin, bleomycin sulfate, vinblastine sulfate, and dacarbazine and has been in remission for the last 4 years. This report presents the challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of a young patient with ASD and cancer and how to overcome them.

Keywords

• autism spectrum disorder
• chemotherapy
• hodgkin’s lymphoma
• lymphadenopathy