Primary retroperitoneal non-Hodgkin lymphoma presenting with torturous generalized pruritus in an elderly

Abstract

Introduction: A case of a rare primary retroperitoneal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which presented with torturous generalized pruritus in a 74-year-old female patient is reported Methods: Case report. Results: Explorative laparotomy was performed after imaging revealed a pelvic mass and an ovarian tumour was suspected. After the frozen section revealed a lymphoma, extensive surgery was omitted. The patient was successfully treated with courses of Bleo-CHOP regimen (complete response) and pruritus resolved entirely after completing the second course of chemotherapy. Conclusion: This report indicates the need of thorough investigation of the peritoneal cavity for the presence of NHL in cases presenting as unexplained pruritus in the elderly. In this setting the presence of a retroperitoneal pelvic mass must raise the suspicion for the possibility of the rare retroperitoneal NHL. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.