Unusual presentation of Hodgkin's disease mimicking inflammatory bowel disease

A case of a 32-years old man with a long lasting history of inflammatory bo wel disease (IBD) is described. He was treated in the past with adequate me dical therapy with considerable improvement of the symptoms. However, after the resolution of the last episode of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, becaus e of multiple protruding masses and sub-stenotic regions found during a col onoscopy, the patient underwent a right enlarged hemicolectomy with jejunal resection. During the surgical procedure 16 enlarged lymphnodes were remov ed. The histological examination of the surgical specimen showed the presen ce of numerous Reed-Sternberg cells, compatible with a diagnosis of Hodgkin 's disesae (HD). None of the removed lymphnodes showed the presence of tumo r cells, and in addition the systemic staging procedure was negative. After staging, the ABVD regimen was started, achieving a complete clinical and p athological response. This is a rare case of primary extranodal RD localize d to the colon, in a patient with a long standing history of IBD, who showe d an optimal response to chemotherapy. The case and the differential diagno sis with other pathological entities of the bowel is discussed.