Background: Primary appendiceal lymphoma is exceedingly rare, representing less than 1% of appendiceal neoplasms. Its clinical presentation is usually indistinguishable from acute appendicitis, often leading to a diagnosis only after histopathological evaluation.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 14-year-old male who presented with acute right iliac fossa pain and underwent appendectomy for suspected appendicitis. The patient was operated on, and the tissue was sent for histopathology, where a diagnosis of primary appendiceal lymphoma was made. Histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that was immunopositive for CD20. The patient succumbed to death on the seventh post-operative day.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of routine histopathological examination of appendectomy specimens and the need for multidisciplinary management. A high suspicion of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is important for early diagnosis, so that patients will receive treatment in the early stage, which can lead to a better prognosis.
Appendicitis, Gastrointestinal, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Rare, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
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