Abstract
A rare case of primary malignant lymphoma of the samll intestine which caused perforated peritonitis is reported, together with a review of its literature.
A 61-year-old man, who had abdominal pain and bloating abut one month ago, was admitted. Upper and lower abdominal series and endoscopy revealed no abnormality. However, he suddenly complained of intensive abdominal pain, his abdomen presented a board-like hardness, and white blood cell count was elevated to 11, 400/mm3. Chest X-ray film disclosed a free air under the diaphragma. The patient underwent emergency operation with a diangosis of perforated pedtonitis. In laparotomy an elastic hard tumor and a perforation were found oral-side approximately 30cm distant from the ileocecal valve, and the ileum was resceted by approximately 50cm. The tumor, about 10cm in length, presented a stricture rounding the ileum. Histopathologically it was a malignant lymphoma with diffuse and large cell type.
This disease is so rare that only 66 cases have been reported in Japan.
