Peripheral T cell lymphoma associated with multiple myeloma

We report on a 63-year-old febrile woman who was diagnosed as having Hodgkin's disease (HD), after laparotomy. About one and half years later, while on a second line therapy for HD, the patient developed superficial diffuse adenomegaly. At that time, an M component was detected in the serum; bone marrow aspirate and biopsy were consistent with multiple myeloma (MM). An axillary lymphnode biopsy was performed and revealed a peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). On reviewing previous samples the earlier diagnosis of HD was rejected and a diagnosis of PTCL was postulated. The clinical course of the patient was rapidly down-hill; she died soon after hospital admission.