Diffuse peritoneal lymphomatosis or abdominal tuberculosis: a clinico-radiological conundrum

Abstract

Primary extra nodal lymphoma occurs in approximately 25% to 40% of patients and is more common in patients with NHL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the dominant histological subtype. A 60-year-old gentleman presented to our hospital with pain abdomen associated with abdominal distension since a month, few constitutional symptoms with bilateral axillary and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Blood investigations showed high total count with significantly high LDH levels. Provisional diagnosis of tubercular Abdomen/Malignant Ascites with Unknown primary was made. CT Abdomen showed large bowel wall thickening with parietal peritoneal lesions with omental cake. Excision biopsy of inguinal lymph node showed lymphoid follicles with poorly defined attenuated mantle zones having centrocytes and centroblasts. Immunohistochemistry was positive for markers, which confirmed the diagnosis of Stage 4B DLBCL, germinal center B-cell type. Sepsis and acute kidney injury occurred and the patient expired, 6 days after diagnosis. To conclude, Peritoneal lymphomatosis is an extremely rare condition. This case highlights the need to have a high index of suspicion for malignancy, when a given case is clinically diagnosed with tuberculosis as and when new findings appear during investigation.