TY - JOUR

T1 - Unexpected finding of T-cell lymphoma in a previously healthy 16-year-old patient after a thorax trauma

AU - Bach Okholm-Hansen, Anna

AU - Brorson, Stig

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - INTRODUCTION: We describe the clinical course and emphasize the difficulties in diagnosing T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. The differential diagnostic difficulties have previously been described in regard to pneumonia, but to the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first case report to describe lymphoma in relation to trauma.CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 16-year-old Danish boy presented to our hospital with chest pain and accentuated protruding thoracic veins. Ten days prior to hospitalization he had suffered a blunt thoracic trauma while playing soccer. After drainage of an excessive amount of pleural fluid, he developed severe respiratory distress. A chest tube was inserted and he was transferred to a level 1 trauma centre. Here, a computed tomography scan unexpectedly revealed significantly swollen mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and he was later diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the importance of reacting to an unexplained large amount of pleural fluid after a patient suffers thoracic trauma and to consider possible underlying causes. This report is mainly addressed to emergency personnel, but it is also relevant to pediatricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and general practitioners.

AB - INTRODUCTION: We describe the clinical course and emphasize the difficulties in diagnosing T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. The differential diagnostic difficulties have previously been described in regard to pneumonia, but to the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first case report to describe lymphoma in relation to trauma.CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 16-year-old Danish boy presented to our hospital with chest pain and accentuated protruding thoracic veins. Ten days prior to hospitalization he had suffered a blunt thoracic trauma while playing soccer. After drainage of an excessive amount of pleural fluid, he developed severe respiratory distress. A chest tube was inserted and he was transferred to a level 1 trauma centre. Here, a computed tomography scan unexpectedly revealed significantly swollen mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and he was later diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the importance of reacting to an unexplained large amount of pleural fluid after a patient suffers thoracic trauma and to consider possible underlying causes. This report is mainly addressed to emergency personnel, but it is also relevant to pediatricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and general practitioners.

KW - Adolescent, Humans, Incidental Findings, Lymph Nodes, Lymphoma, T-Cell, Male, Mediastinum, Pleural Effusion, Thoracic Injuries, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Wounds, Nonpenetrating

U2 - 10.1186/1752-1947-8-371

DO - 10.1186/1752-1947-8-371

M3 - Journal article

VL - 8

JO - Journal of Medical Case Reports

JF - Journal of Medical Case Reports

SN - 1752-1947

M1 - 371

ER -