[Two fatal cases of hepatic failure due to a malignant lymphoma presenting a liver injury]

Reported are two cases of a malignant lymphoma that presented a liver injury in which death was brought on by hepatic failure. In both instances on admission, liver injury and hepatomegaly were noticed. Abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography, however, showed no SOL in the liver or any clear lymph node mass, though a bright echo and a diffuse low density was observed in one of the patients (Case 1). In spite of treatment that included prednisolone, the liver injury in both patients progressed towards hepatic failure. Severe jaundice increased rapidly in Case 1, and a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy complicated by jaundice was observed in the other patient (Case 2). Both autopsies revealed severe lymphoma cell infiltration into the liver, mainly in Glisson's capsule, and diffuse hepatic cell necrosis. Diagnostic imaging of the diffuse lymphoma infiltration into the liver proved very difficult, so that it was necessary to rely on a differential diagnosis, employing laboratory tests and a liver biopsy.