Unusual presentation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: polyarthritis and uveitis mimicking a rheumatologic disease

Abstract

We report a case of 45-year-old male who presented with polyarthritis and posterior uveitis. He was given azathioprine (AZA) 150 mg day(-1) and methyl-prednisolone 48 mg day(-1) for his uveitis and polyarthritis. Eye and joint complaints improved with these medications within 1 month. Three months later, while he was on AZA, the patient presented with pain on his anterior chest wall associated with diffuse hyperemic and warm mass lesion. A wedge biopsy of the lesion was reported as diffuse large B-cell NHL. Here, we briefly discuss the relationship between arthritis, uveitis and lymphoproliferative disease.