Case Report

Hodgkin lymphoma clinically presenting as a huge soft tissue mass in the thigh

  • Nisa Cem Ören
  • Sinan Akay
  • H.Tuba Sanal
  • Bekir Öztürk
  • Ömer Günhan

Received Date: 07.12.2009 Accepted Date: 03.05.2011 Gulhane Med J 2012;54(1):62-64

Hodgkin lymphoma is a neoplasia that is characterized with classical Reed- Sternberg cells. It usually involves intratoracic region but it can be also seen in bone, head and neck, central nerve system, thymus, thorax wall, heart and abdomen as extrathoracic involvement. In this study, we aimed to present magnetic resonance imaging findings of a 61-year-old male patient with a huge mass in his upper thigh mimicking a soft tissue tumor but diagnosed histopathologically as Hodgkin lymphoma. Ultrasonography is useful in determining malignant/benign nature of a mass and its vascularity but magnetic resonance imaging serves better in delineating the extension of the tumor through the neighbourhood compartments, enhancement characteristics and its differential diagnoses. Lymphoma is characterized by enlarging lymph nodes in a shape of a grape bunch in the place from the inguinal region to pelvis near the vascular structures as seen in our case. It also should be kept in mind of indolent and atypical infections in the differential diagnosis of lymphoma.

Keywords: Lower extremity, Hodgkin lymphoma, mass, magnetic resonance imaging, thigh