Non-Hodgkin disease in beta-thalassemia major

Thalassemia is a spectrum of diseases characterized by the decrease or absence of globin chains. The occurrence of lymphoma in thalassemia has rarely been reported, and our review of the English literature revealed only four cases. Because anemia is always masked by regular transfusions in thalassemic patients, physicians discover a hidden malignancy late in the course of the disease. We hereby report the case of a thalassemic patient developing non-Hodgkin disease and discuss the possibility of a link between the two disease entities. This case is intended to alert physicians of the possibility of a malignancy in thalassemia patients.