Unusual presentation of primary ovarian diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case report

Background Primary ovarian lymphoma has been difficult to diagnose clinically and pathologically due to its rare incidence and non-specific clinical symptoms. Case presentation A 75-year-old female patient was reported in this study. The patient had a six-month history of changes in bowel habits, with occasional black feces and paroxysmal pain in the abdomen. The computed tomography scan of the pelvic cavity illustrated that rectal cancer and sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma invaded the lower part of the right-side ureter. The patient was once treated with excision of part of small intestine, fallopian tube and ovary, and uterus. The pathological examination of these excised tissues, combined with the immunohistochemistry, confirmed that the female patient suffered from primary ovarian diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and the lymphoma had invaded the entire right-side ovary tissues, serous membranes on the posterior surface of the uterus, and the wall of small intestine. Conclusion Few reports were available regarding the primary ovarian DLBCL. The initial symptom of the patient was the changes in bowel habits, which had not been reported beforehand. Hopefully, this case could helpfully render the early diagnosis possible, and increase clinical understanding of primary ovarian DLBCL, which would thereby reduce the chance of misdiagnosis.

Automated summary

Primary ovarian lymphoma is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose clinically and pathologically. We reported a patient with this disease, whose clinical symptoms were mainly changes in bowel habits and abdominal pain. Through pathological examination and immunohistochemistry, primary ovarian diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was confirmed.