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Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma presenting as refractory cellulitis
L M Baddour1, K H Haden, J W Allen
1Department of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee Medical Center, 1924 Alcoa Hwy, U-114, Knoxville, TN 37920-6999, USA. lbaddour@mc.utmck.edu
Cutis
|October 3, 2001
Summary
A rare case of non-Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cellulitis typically presents with infectious causes and responds to antibiotics.
- Non-infectious etiologies for soft-tissue changes are less common but require thorough investigation.
- Malignancy can present with atypical symptoms, mimicking inflammatory conditions.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old woman presented with symptoms suggestive of cellulitis.
- Clinical and radiological findings were inconsistent with infection, including lack of response to antibiotics.
- Computed tomographic scans revealed extensive muscular infiltration and a liver lesion, raising suspicion for malignancy.
Findings:
- Muscle biopsy confirmed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a B-cell phenotype.
- Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma is rare, especially in immunocompetent individuals.
- The patient's presentation of refractory cellulitis due to lymphoma is extremely uncommon.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering non-infectious causes, particularly malignancy, in refractory cellulitis.
- Early diagnosis through biopsy is crucial for effective treatment of rare lymphomas.
- Awareness of unusual presentations of lymphoma can improve patient outcomes.