S3539 An Unusual Presentation of Obstructive Jaundice Due to Primary Hepatic Lymphoma

Introduction: Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is exceedingly rare. Obstructive jaundice is an unusual presentation of PHL and raises suspicion for cholangiocarcinoma. We present the case of a 78-year-old man with painless jaundice and initial concern for cholangiocarcinoma who was found to have PHL. Case Description/Methods: A 78-year-old man with atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease presented to the emergency department with painless jaundice. He denied abdominal pain, fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. The physical exam revealed generalized jaundice and no abdominal tenderness. Initial laboratory evaluation showed marked hyperbilirubinemia (15 mg/dL, predominantly conjugated), moderate elevation in liver associated enzymes with mixed pattern. Tumor marker evaluation showed a significantly elevated cancer antigen 19-9 of 611 U/mL, mild carcinoembryonic antigen elevation of 5.5 ng/mL and normal alpha-fetoprotein. Abdominal imaging showed a large hepatic heterogenous hypodense lesion measuring 12.5 × 9.9 × 4.4 cm, with internal cystic changes and necrosis, intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation and prominent periaortic and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Additional imaging was negative for systemic disease. There was initial concern for cholangiocarcinoma due to obstructive jaundice and elevated tumor marker. The patient had esophagogastroduodenoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound with biopsy of the hepatic mass. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a stricture in the common hepatic duct (CHD). SpyGlass cholangioscopy showed an intraluminal mass at the level of the CHD which was biopsied. Dilation of the hepatic ducts was performed and a right hepatic duct stent was deployed. The biopsy of the liver mass revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the biopsy of the biliary mass showed crushed lymphoma tissue. The patient was discharged with close hematology-oncology follow up. Discussion: Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare manifestation of non-Hodkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that consists of 0.1% of all hepatic malignancies and 0.4% of extranodal NHL. The clinical presentation is nonspecific. Our patient had obstructive jaundice, a CHD stricture and a CHD mass which raised concern for cholangiocarcinoma. The definitive diagnosis of PHL requires liver mass biopsy and exclusion of systemic disease. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential in evaluating hepatic lesions to include lymphoproliferative malignancies such as PHL.

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Publication Details

Journal
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Published
2025-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0001141616.40044.26
Primary Topic
Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies
Type
article
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article

S3539 An Unusual Presentation of Obstructive Jaundice Due to Primary Hepatic Lymphoma

Mason Adams, C. Moreno, Wilhelm S. Basegoda
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies
article

S3539 An Unusual Presentation of Obstructive Jaundice Due to Primary Hepatic Lymphoma

Mason Adams, C. Moreno, Wilhelm S. Basegoda
article en

Abstract

Introduction: Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is exceedingly rare. Obstructive jaundice is an unusual presentation of PHL and raises suspicion for cholangiocarcinoma. We present the case of a 78-year-old man with painless jaundice and initial concern for cholangiocarcinoma who was found to have PHL. Case Description/Methods: A 78-year-old man with atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease presented to the emergency department with painless jaundice. He denied abdominal pain, fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. The physical exam revealed generalized jaundice and no abdominal tenderness. Initial laboratory evaluation showed marked hyperbilirubinemia (15 mg/dL, predominantly conjugated), moderate elevation in liver associated enzymes with mixed pattern. Tumor marker evaluation showed a significantly elevated cancer antigen 19-9 of 611 U/mL, mild carcinoembryonic antigen elevation of 5.5 ng/mL and normal alpha-fetoprotein. Abdominal imaging showed a large hepatic heterogenous hypodense lesion measuring 12.5 × 9.9 × 4.4 cm, with internal cystic changes and necrosis, intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation and prominent periaortic and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Additional imaging was negative for systemic disease. There was initial concern for cholangiocarcinoma due to obstructive jaundice and elevated tumor marker. The patient had esophagogastroduodenoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound with biopsy of the hepatic mass. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a stricture in the common hepatic duct (CHD). SpyGlass cholangioscopy showed an intraluminal mass at the level of the CHD which was biopsied. Dilation of the hepatic ducts was performed and a right hepatic duct stent was deployed. The biopsy of the liver mass revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the biopsy of the biliary mass showed crushed lymphoma tissue. The patient was discharged with close hematology-oncology follow up. Discussion: Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare manifestation of non-Hodkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that consists of 0.1% of all hepatic malignancies and 0.4% of extranodal NHL. The clinical presentation is nonspecific. Our patient had obstructive jaundice, a CHD stricture and a CHD mass which raised concern for cholangiocarcinoma. The definitive diagnosis of PHL requires liver mass biopsy and exclusion of systemic disease. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential in evaluating hepatic lesions to include lymphoproliferative malignancies such as PHL.

The American Journal of GastroenterologyVol. 120(10S2)
Openalex Percentile: Top 52%
Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies
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