Peripheral T-cell lymphoma of the colon associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of the colon is classified as a subtype of intestinal T-cell lymphoma, which usually has multiple ulcerations. Herein, we report a case of multiple ulcers in the large intestine of a 55-year-old male, who presented to us with symptoms of abdominal pain and watery diarrhea for a month. In addition, results of his endoscopic biopsy revealed crypt abscess with dense inflammatory cells infiltrated in the lamina propria of the colon. One week later, he presented with pancytopenia and jaundice, and results of a biopsy of the bone marrow showed the appearance of hemophagocytosis. Unfortunately, colon perforation occurred during the 10th day of hospitalization, and a histopathological analysis of the colonic resection revealed PTCL. Finally, the patient died of sepsis on the 29th day of hospitalization. The endoscopic character of ulcerative colon T-cell lymphoma is easily confused with Crohn's disease, tuberculosis colitis, and viral colitis. In addition, it is also difficult to distinguish between lymphoma cells and dense inflammatory cells while performing endoscopic biopsy of the mucosa in colon lymphoma. Once a typical geographic and punched out ulcers of the colon are found accompanying the presentation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, the diagnosis of PTCL involving the colon should be highly suspected, even if the initial endoscopic biopsy has failed to confirm it. Copyright (C) 2012 Elsevier Taiwan LLC and the Chinese Medical Association. All rights reserved.