[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Since primary malignant lymphomas of the liver represent a rare entity, no commonly accepted therapeutic strategy has been developed so far.

We report the case of a diffuse large-cell B-cell lymphoma of the liver in a 48-year-old female patient. The tumor presented as a solitary mass measuring 12.5 cm in maximum diameter. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the lymphoma was completely resected (R0). A massive therapy-induced tumor regression was found histologically. No involvement of regional lymph nodes or other organs was detected during staging procedures (stage I EA). After six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient has been alive and well for more than 5 years and shows no evidence of tumor relapse.

This case documents the effect of systemic chemotherapy on lymphoma cells. In many centers systemic chemotherapy is used as the only therapeutic regimen. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy might, however, represent an important addition to the therapeutic strategies concerning unilocular primary hepatic lymphomas.