[Non-hodgkin-lymphoma of low malignancy (immunocytoma) and arthritis of the glenohumeral joint].

AIM: Oligo- or monarthritis is reported as an uncommon complication of both acute and chronic leukemia. Childhood leukemias are complicated more frequently by leukemic arthritis (LA) than adult cases. LA occurs rather in acute than in chronic leukemia and can present at any stage of the disease. Proposed pathogenic mechanisms of arthritis in leukemia are leukemic infiltration of synovial tissue and resulting periosteal and capsular inflammation. As the primary manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and immunocytoma (IC), LA is extremely rare. In such cases osteoarthritis may then be misdiagnosed as the source of joint disease.

METHOD: We report a case of glenohumeral arthritis with complete rotator cuff tear and humeral head migration in an 88-year-old patient. Surgery exposed joint effusion, synovitis and chondromalacia with glenohumeral joint destruction.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination revealed an articular chondrocalcinosis and bone marrow infiltration by an immunocytoma (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of low malignancy).

CONCLUSION

Although LA is an uncommon complication in CLL and IC, it may be considered in elderly patients with lymphocytosis and arthritis.