Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of rectum presenting with rectal prolapse

Abstract

Involvement of the rectum by primary or secondary malignant lymphoma is uncommon in adults. Primary lymphoma of the rectum in children is an extremely rare occurrence. We describe a 12-year-old boy with a localized rectal tumor that presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding, mimicking a juvenile polyp. He underwent transrectal local wide excision of the tumor, and the pathologic condition proved to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B-cell type. This case illustrates the importance of considering the possibility of a rectal malignancy manifesting as a rectal prolapse even in children and the surgical strategy used.