The treatment of diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in pregnancy: A case report and a literature review

Abstract

Aim: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is the most common type of lymphoma diagnosed during pregnancy while the occurrence of non-Hod-gkin's lymphoma (NHL) is rare because the peak incidence of disease occurs after reproductive age. Case report: We present a case of 36-year-old woman, in the 13th week of pregnancy, admitted to our department for suspected thyroid lymphoma. She presented with neck swelling, respiratory distress , and dysphagia. After biopsy, histopathological analysis led to the diagnosis of primary diffuse large B-cell mediastinal NHL. The recommendation of multidisciplinary medical team was to start the treatment immediately with R-CHOP for a total of 6-8 cycles. Five years have passed since the beginning of the treatment, the disease is still in remission and the child is at normal level of growth for their age. Conclusion: Lymphomas in pregnancy represent a challenge for the medical team as well as for the patient. With early diagnosis and appropriate therapy, despite all the risks, it is possible to bring mother into remission without endangering the offspring.