Ultrasonographic and computed tomography manifestations of intussusception secondary to primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed in puerperium: report of a case and review of the literature.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is infrequently diagnosed during pregnancy and puerperium. A 21-year-old woman, para II, gravida II, on the seventh postpartum day arrived at the Emergency Gynaecologic Clinic complaining of colicky abdominal pain associated with bilious vomiting. A large tender mass of firm consistency was palpated in the midline towards the left hypochondrium. A CT scan of the upper abdomen showed thickened small bowel with halo, specifically at the junction of the jejunum with the ileum, resembling imaging of intussusception. Also, blocks of mesenteric and paraortic lymph nodes and multiple lymph nodes inducing enlargement of the anterior mediastinum were found. These findings rendered a picture of lymphoma in Stage at least III. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy confirmed our preoperative diagnosis. Histopathological examination of the lymph node biopsies established the diagnosis of a primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Judging from the extent of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in our patient seven days after delivery the disease probably already existed during the last trimester of pregnancy. This study demonstrates a remarkable delay in diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in pregnancy. The diagnostic dilemmas of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during pregnancy are emphasized and the literature is reviewed.