Perianal Hodgkin's lymphoma complicating Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND

The perianal region is a very rare location for Hodgkin's lymphoma, and clinicians may often neglect the diagnosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PATIENT PRESENTATION: We present a case of perianal Hodgkin's lymphoma in patient with Crohn's disease who was on long-term immunosuppression and whose symptoms would normally be attributed to Crohn's disease. Diagnosis was based on the morphological appearance of atypical cells in the lamina propria and the immunohistochemical profile of Reed Sternberg and Hodgkin's cells, showing co-expression of CD15 and CD30.

CONCLUSION

Perianal complaints in patients with inflammatory bowel disease may be a manifestation of other pathology. Hodgkin's lymphoma could be a progression in the chronically inflamed tissue in this unusual location.