A rare case of primary pulmonary anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are rare causes of primary lung neoplasms and most are B-cell in origin. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is an exceedingly rare type of primary pulmonary lymphoma, with an aggressive clinical course. We present the case of an 85-year old male patient who attended our Emergency Department complaining of respiratory and constitutional symptoms, and who was found to have a bronchial mass causing subtotal atelectasis of the left lung. Histological examination showed an anaplastic large cell lymphoma and further investigation revealed that it was limited to the lung. To our knowledge, very few similar cases have been reported in the literature.