Beta-thalassemia intermedia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The presenting symptoms of malignancies like anemia and splenomegaly in thalassemic patients can be overlooked and considered as complications of thalassemia. Our paper deals with a case of large B cell lymphoma with bone marrow involvement in an old lady with thalassemia intermedia. The patient showed complete response after the second cycle of chemotherapy that consists of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP protocol). However, the patient relapsed with bone marrow involvement shortly after (2 weeks) completion of the sixth cycle of chemotherapy, and she was started on monoclonal antibodies Rituximab. On reviewing the literature, only four cases of thalassemia and lymphoma have been reported worldwide, thus making our case the fifth report of this rare combination of diseases.