Hodgkin's disease presenting as diffuse nonspecific inflammation of small bowel

I report an unusual case of primary retroperitoneal Hodgkin's disease. The initial presentation radiographically involved diffuse thickening of small bowel folds from the duodenum through the terminal ileum. The histologic picture consisted of diffuse, nonspecific inflammation with an infiltrate resembling that seen in tropical sprue. The clinical picture consisted of progressive diffuse abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and weight loss. The histologic and radiographic abnormalities returned to normal with chemotherapy. Computerized search of the English language literature uncovered no similar case presentation.