Acute Hodgkin disease masquerading as splenic abscess

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Splenic lesions can present diagnostic challenges, sometimes mimicking other conditions.
• Accurate diagnosis of splenic abnormalities is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A 65-year-old patient was initially diagnosed with a splenic abscess based on clinical, radiological, and ultrasonographic findings.
• Laparotomy revealed a markedly enlarged spleen with tumoral tissue and a large cystic lesion.

Findings:

• Histological examination confirmed the splenic lesion as typical Hodgkin disease with lymphocytic depletion.
• Ultrasonography played a key role in identifying the splenic lesion, though the initial diagnosis was inaccurate.

Implications:

• Hodgkin disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic splenic lesions detected by ultrasonography.
• This case underscores the need for comprehensive evaluation and histological confirmation in diagnosing complex splenic pathologies.