Hodgkin's lymphoma presents as an inguinal abscess: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Lymphadenitis with suppuration is a rare presentation of Hodgkin's lymphoma with few cases reported in the literature. We report two cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma in two male members of the same family. They presented initially with clinical features suggesting infective inguinal lymphadenitis and then the picture was indistinguishable from inguinal abscess. The diagnosis was made after drainage of the pus and excision of the involved lymph node. The histopathology of the excised lymph node showed Hodgkin's lymphoma-nodular sclerosis for both brothers. After careful staging of both patients, the disease found to be localised to the inguinal group of lymph nodes. The patients referred to the haematologist for chemotherapy and they recovered after treatment.

Figure 1

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma—nodular sclerosis variant.

Figure 2

Classical Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's lymphoma—patient 1 (H&E staining).

Figure 3

Classical Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's lymphoma—patient 2 (H&E staining).

Figure 4

Immunohistochemical staining of lymph node showed strong expression of CD20/CD30—patient 1.

Figure 5

Immunohistochemical staining of lymph node showed strong expression of CD20/CD30—patient 2.