[Diagnostic difficulties in diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in a young man--a case report].

UNLABELLED: Lymphomas are neoplasms of lymphocytes and their precursor cells. This disease develops from lymph nodes or extranodal lymphoid tissue. A common site for such a tumour is the chest. The authors describe the case of a young man, who was admitted do the thoracic surgery department with a mediastinal tumour and an induration of the base of the neck. Initial diagnostic tests gave the wrong diagnosis of actinomycosis. A lack of progress in the therapy and the occurrence of a life-threatening condition led to the implementation of more aggressive diagnostic methods. In biopsies taken during thoracotomy, the patient was finally diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma of nodular sclerosis type.

CONCLUSIONS: Mediastinal tumours may cause diagnostic difficulties and, to avoid mistakes, typical histological studies should be complemented by targeted immunohistochemical tests.