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A rare case of Epstein–Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, in a patient with ulcerative colitis

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Abstract

While colorectal cancer is a likely complication associated with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, malignant lymphoma occurs less frequently. We report the case of a patient with ulcerative colitis having Epstein–Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (EBV + DLBCL, NOS), which was maintained in clinical remission with 5-aminosalicylic acid. The patient had received a diagnosis of total ulcerative colitis 5 years ago. A recent colonoscopy revealed a 35 mm protruding lesion with depression in the sigmoid colon, and histopathological examination confirmed the presence of EBV + DLBCL, NOS. The patient has undergone six courses of chemotherapy without recurrence of lymphoma and will continue to be monitored periodically. Patients with ulcerative colitis must be followed up with periodic colonoscopies and imaging studies regardless of their background, treatment, and symptoms to ensure the prevention of complications. Furthermore, while special attention must be paid to the commonly occurring colorectal cancer on account of its association with the patient’s prognosis, the possibility of the incidence of malignant lymphoma must not be ignored.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Nobuhiko Komoike (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine) and Dr. Yoshinori Arai (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University, Katsushika Medical Center, Tekko Building Marunouchi Clinic) for carefully reading, discussing, and giving comments on the manuscript. The authors thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University, Katsushika Medical Center, 6-41-2 Aoto, Katsushika-Ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan

    Tatsuya Nakada, Seiji Arihiro & Atsushi Hokari

  2. Division of Clinical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tadahiro Gunji, Yoji Ogasawara & Shingo Yano

  3. Department of Endoscopy, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Masayuki Kato

  4. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tomohiro Kato & Masayuki Saruta

  5. Center for Preventive Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tomohiro Kato

  6. Department of Pathology, Katsushika Medical Center, The Jikei University, Tokyo, Japan

    Masahiro Ikegami

Authors
  1. Tatsuya Nakada
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  2. Seiji Arihiro
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  3. Tadahiro Gunji
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  4. Yoji Ogasawara
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  5. Masayuki Kato
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  6. Tomohiro Kato
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  7. Masahiro Ikegami
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  8. Shingo Yano
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  9. Atsushi Hokari
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  10. Masayuki Saruta
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Contributions

TN designed this case report and wrote the manuscript. SA contributed to the concept and helped to write the manuscript. TN, TG, and SA provided medical care for the patient. YO, AH, TK, MK, MI, SY, and MS are co-supervisors. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seiji Arihiro.

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Nakada, T., Arihiro, S., Gunji, T. et al. A rare case of Epstein–Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, in a patient with ulcerative colitis. Clin J Gastroenterol 16, 543–549 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-023-01811-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-023-01811-z

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