PRIMARY NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA OF THE LIVER - CASE-REPORT

This paper describes a rare occurrence of primary lymphoma of the live r in a young female and demonstrates the possibility of making the cor rect diagnosis by ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. A 32-year old female suffering from upper abdominal pain, hepatomegal y, nausea, anorexia and weight loss for almost 2 months was admitted t o our Department. After a clinical and instrumental (lab exams, ultras onography, computed tomography) evaluation, we reached the correct dia gnosis of hepatic primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by means of ultrasoni cally guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. Two weeks after hospitaliz ation the patient was treated with 8 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy and t hen with alpha-2b interferon immunotherapy. The hepatic ultrasonograph y and CT abdominal scan showed the complete absence of the lymphomatou s lesions 36 months later. Up to February 1998, the patient was well a nd led a normal life. We conclude that the CHOP chemotherapy plus inte rferon immunotherapy were effective and well tolerated with a complete response 38 months following diagnosis.