3223 Knot in the Stomach: Metastatic DLBCL Disguised as an Ulcer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Early primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be difficult to diagnose and can be mistaken for diseases such as Crohn's disease or intestinal tuberculosis. We present a 73-year-old patient who had large duodenal bulb ulcer on endoscopy that resulted in metastatic DLBCL. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 73-year-old female with history of osteoporosis, Vitamin B12 deficiency, and leukopenia presented to her primary care physician complaining of feeling knot in upper abdomen for 1 month. She felt the knot was getting progressively bigger with mild abdominal discomfort. She had also complained of early satiety, abdominal bloating, and weight loss of 3-4 pounds in past few months. She denied diarrhea or blood in the stools. Physical exam was significant for minimal distension with prominent palpable pass in right upper abdomen with tenderness to palpation and no lymphadenopathy. Labs showed WBC 4.0, Hb 11.6, Plt 417, Alkaline Phosphatase 235, Alb 3.3. CT scan of abdomen pelvis showed circumferential mass like thickening along gastric antrum, mesenteric implants, and periaortic lymphadenopathy concerning for gastric carcinoma or lymphoma. She was referred to oncologist and gastroenterologist for evaluation with upper endoscopy. EGD showed large duodenal bulb ulcer with necrotic base and small ulcer in antrum. Duodenal biopsy showed newly diagnosed stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma that also involved gastric, gallbladder, and pancreas. She completed 3 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy and was started on high-dose methotrexate for CNS prophylaxis. She had Whipple procedure done after leak of gastrografin and noted to have perforated duodenum. DISCUSSION: Diagnosis of primary GI lymphoma is difficult as it can be nonspecific and often benign gross appearance on endoscopy or colonoscopy. The duodenum represents roughly 6-8% of sites involving small intestine lymphoma. DLBCL of the intestine treated with surgery plus CHOP or R-CHOP chemotherapy has very good prognosis. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial due to the aggressive nature of this malignancy.