Ventricular tachycardia in a patient with lymphocytic (non Hodgkin's) lymphoma.

A 19 year old student was admitted with generalised lymphadenopathy, paraplegia, double incontinence and weight loss in our hospital (Abuth Zaria). A histological diagnosis of lymphocytic (non-Hodgkin's) lymphoma was made on lymph node biopsy. Before treatment could be started the patient developed increasing difficulty in breathing. He was transferred to our ICU where he was noted to have developed no sustained VT. Subsequent repeated episodes did not respond to resuscitative measures (i.v. lignocaine 100 mg for five minutes, oxygen and assisted respiration). The patient died.