A Unique Case of Primary Hepatic CD30-Positive, CD15-Negative Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin and Acute Hepatic Failure

Abstract

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a B-cell lymphoproliferative neoplasm that commonly presents with lymphadenopathy and constitutional symptoms. Primary Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver without extrahepatic lymphadenopathy is rare, representing about 0.016% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 0.4% of all extranodal lymphomas. Most primary hepatic lymphomas (PHL) are of the diffuse large B-cell histology. In a patient presenting with fever and acute hepatic failure in the absence of extrahepatic lymphadenopathy, the diagnosis of primary Hodgkin's lymphoma should be entertained. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of CD30-positive, CD15-negative primary hepatic classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Primary Liver Lymphoma Presenting as Liver Nodules

“…PLL is a rare entity due to the lack of abundant lymphoid tissue in the normal liver [7]. It corresponds to 0.4% of extranodal lymphomas and 0.016% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas [5, 8]. It most commonly affects male patients (2:1) aged between 50 and 62 years [2, 8, 9].…”

“…Liver involvement is frequent in advanced systemic hematologic disease [1][2][3] (10% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas) [4], but primary liver lymphomas (PLLs) are rare [5]. The diagnosis is usually late, and prognosis is poor [5]. Earlier diagnosis is associated with better survival [6], and therefore this condition should be considered in the approach of a patient with liver disease.…”