A Case of Primary Follicular Malignant Lymphoma of the Spleen

A case of primary follicular malignant lymphoma is reported. The patient was a 71-year-old woman who was found to have a splenic tumor by ultrasonography. Splenectomy with regional lymph-node dissection was performed. A hard irregular mass was palpable in the moderately enlarged spleen. The excised spleen measured 12 by 9 by 8 cm, weighted 390 grams and was partially replaced by a yellowishbrown tumor. Histological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, follicular medium cell type. No adjuvant chemotherapy was performed because of the histological type and low stage (Stage 1 by Ahmann's classification). Six months later, malignant lymphoma recurred in the pleural cavity, and CHOP therapy was performed. She is alive 16 months after the operation. Primary follicular malignant lymphoma of the spleen is very rare, so we reported here.