Primary hepatic lymphoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis B

Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare disorder and the clinical behavior remains unknown. We report a patient with primary hepatic lymphoma who had chronic hepatitis B. She was asymptomatic; however, a solitary tumor in the left lobe was incidentally detected. After left hepatic lobectomy was performed, a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was made. No tumor was found except in the liver. Immunohistochemical stains for hepatitis B surface and core antigens were positive in hepatocytes; however, both were negative in the tumor tissue. The patient received no chemotherapy and the tumor relapsed. After chemotherapy, the tumor disappeared. However, exacerbation of hepatitis occurred after the fourth chemotherapy. The patient was followed up without chemotherapy, and she remains in apparent remission. Chemotherapy is effective against primary hepatic lymphoma and, if possible, patients with this disorder should be treated with chemotherapy postoperatively.