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Anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the esophagus in a pediatric patient

Anastasia L Hryhorczuk1, Marian H Harris, Sara O Vargas

  • 1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Pediatric Radiology
|August 31, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A pediatric case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+) presented unusually with esophageal perforation, not typical for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in children. This highlights a rare clinical presentation of pediatric NHL.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Esophageal perforation in children typically results from interventions, foreign bodies, or caustic ingestion.
  • Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK)+ is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
  • Esophageal involvement is an uncommon manifestation in pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Observation:

  • A 3-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain, later diagnosed with esophageal perforation.
  • The patient did not improve with conservative management.
  • Subsequent lymphadenopathy led to a biopsy revealing anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Findings:

  • The case presents an unusual initial manifestation of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
  • Esophageal perforation was the presenting symptom, preceding the diagnosis of ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
  • This represents a potentially unreported association between esophageal perforation and pediatric NHL.

Implications:

  • This case expands the differential diagnosis for esophageal perforation in children.
  • It underscores the importance of considering hematologic malignancies in pediatric cases with unusual presentations.
  • Further research may be needed to understand the mechanisms of esophageal involvement in pediatric NHL.

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