Unusual presentation for small lymphocytic lymphoma: Case report of a man with bilateral ear involvement and review of the literature

B Tram Do; A-M Charpentier; J Bourré-Tessier; A Maietta; S Doucet; T Ayad; A Christopoulos

doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2018.10.017

Unusual presentation for small lymphocytic lymphoma: Case report of a man with bilateral ear involvement and review of the literature

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2019 Jun;136(3S):S45-S47. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2018.10.017. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Authors

B Tram Do¹, A-M Charpentier², J Bourré-Tessier³, A Maietta⁴, S Doucet⁵, T Ayad⁶, A Christopoulos⁷

Affiliations

¹ Otorhinolaryngoloy service, department of surgery, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, 1560, Sherbrooke Est, H2L 4M1 Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: btram.do91@gmail.com.
² Department of radiation oncology, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: anne-marie.charpentier.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
³ Department of rhumatology, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: josiane.bourre.tessier@umontreal.ca.
⁴ Department of pathology, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: antonio.maietta.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
⁵ Department of hematology, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: stephane.doucet@gmail.com.
⁶ Otorhinolaryngoloy service, department of surgery, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, 1560, Sherbrooke Est, H2L 4M1 Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: tareckayad@yahoo.ca.
⁷ Otorhinolaryngoloy service, department of surgery, centre hospitalier de l'université de Montreal, 1560, Sherbrooke Est, H2L 4M1 Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: christopoulos@umontreal.ca.

PMID: 30880035
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2018.10.017

Abstract

Introduction: Ear involvement by non-Hodgkin lymphoma is quite rare and can be mistaken for other common lesions encountered in otolaryngology. The literature on this subject is also limited.

Case summary: A 45-year-old man with bilateral ear nodules that progressed over two years. Biopsy of the right ear revealed a B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The patient responded to radiotherapy well. He received an additional dose two months after the initial treatment because of a remaining nodularity on the right earlobe. After several months, he presented a new lesion on his nasal tip, for which a biopsy confirmed a lymphoma relapse. The patient was managed with oral prednisone and low-dose radiation with a favourable response.

Discussion: This case highlights the importance of including lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of ear lesions from an otolaryngology perspective. A biopsy of any lesion or nodule with an atypical course should be considered for appropriate diagnosis and management.

Keywords: B-cell lymphoma; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Cutaneous lymphoma; Head and neck neoplasms; Small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Ear Auricle*
Ear Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Ear Neoplasms* / pathology
Ear Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Humans
Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / drug therapy
Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / pathology
Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* / radiotherapy
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary* / drug therapy
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary* / pathology
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary* / radiotherapy
Nose Neoplasms / secondary
Radiation Dosage