A case report of primary splenic malignant lymphoma

A case of primary splenic malignant lymphoma is reported. A 60-years-old male patient visited a hospital complaining of epigastric discomfort. Serological examination revealed hepatic dysfunction, and an intrasplenic mass lesion was found on ultrasonography. Quick inprint cytology was performed during splenectomy. Tumor cells were not conjugated each other and they have various sized oval to round nuclei with scanty cytoplasm, presenting high N/C ratio. Fine and vesicular chromatin distributed in the nuclei which had one to several nucleoli, but cytoplasmic granules were not seen. Based on these findings, malignant lymphoma was diagnosed. The tumor was white in colour on the cut surface of the resected spleen, and was localized in the spleen. The tumor consisted of diffuse proliferation of medium sized lymphoma cells immunologically positive for cytoplasmic IgG and kappa light chain. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diffuse and medium-sized type was diagnosed. The patient is well, and no signs of recurrence are noted three years after the operation. Primary splenic lymphoma is extremely rare and only five cases which are satisfied with criteria proposed by Gupta et al are found in the literature.