Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the cecum: A case report

Malignant lymphomas involve the gastrointestinal tract either as primary neoplasms or as part of disseminated disease. Primary lymphoma of the colon is rare, constituting 0.4 % of all colonic malignancies. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for almost all colonic lymphomas.1-3 The signs and symptoms of colonic lymphoma are non-specific. The lack of specific symptoms can be the reason for delayed diagnosis.4 The most common presentation is abdominal pain, with weight loss and changing bowel habits in 60-90 % of patients.1,5 A palpable abdominal mass can sometimes be noted on the initial physical examination.6 Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) shows the changes in the large bowel, caused by lymphoma, but there is a broad spectrum of radiological variations: lymphoma is a great mimicker.7 Ultrasound (US) is often the first imaging modality used in patients with vague abdomiRadiol Oncol 2002; 36(1): 1-4.