Primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma. A report of 2 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Two cases of primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma PPHL are presented, a male aged 21, and a female aged 32 years. Symptoms included non-productive cough, shortness of breath, low-grade fever, wheezing, and weight loss. Duration of illness varied between 6 weeks in the male patient to 7 months in the female patient. Both patients were given an empirical trial of antibiotics and anti-cough measures with no response. Radiological studies carried out after failure to respond to medical treatment, revealed the presence of pulmonary parenchymal masses in both patients. Cytology, bronchoscopic and transbronchial biopsies were not diagnostic, which led to opened wedge resections. Finally, the diagnosis of primary pulmonary Hodgkin's disease was reached after supportive immunohistochemical staining CD30 and CD15 both positive in RS cells. Both patients were regarded as stage I extranodal IE after exhaustive measures failed to demonstrate involvement of other body sites.