Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case

Subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess is an uncommon clinical condition due to anatomical variations in the appendix’s position. Here, we report an unusual case of a 56-year-old male who initially presented with right abdominal pain and fever, misdiagnosed as bilateral kidney stones...

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Main Authors: Hao Chen, Miao Yu, Zhanping Chang, Yang Li, Lei Fan, Dake Shang, Huili Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1591905/full
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author Hao Chen
Miao Yu
Zhanping Chang
Yang Li
Lei Fan
Dake Shang
Huili Zhang
author_facet Hao Chen
Miao Yu
Zhanping Chang
Yang Li
Lei Fan
Dake Shang
Huili Zhang
author_sort Hao Chen
collection DOAJ
description Subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess is an uncommon clinical condition due to anatomical variations in the appendix’s position. Here, we report an unusual case of a 56-year-old male who initially presented with right abdominal pain and fever, misdiagnosed as bilateral kidney stones and urinary tract infection. Subsequent abdominal CT(Computed Tomography) scans revealed subhepatic appendicitis with a hepatic abscess located in segment VI of the liver. The patient underwent successful laparoscopic appendectomy and hepatic abscess drainage. Unexpectedly, histopathological examination of the appendix demonstrated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a rare form of primary appendiceal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis, with tumor cells positive for CD20, CD79a, Bcl-6, and c-Myc, and a high Ki-67 proliferative index (>90%). This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with atypically positioned appendicitis and underscores the importance of pathological evaluation in detecting rare underlying malignancies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2234-943X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-20ab8a05252149ccb9ca073da5b4efca2025-08-20T03:45:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-06-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15919051591905Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported caseHao Chen0Miao Yu1Zhanping Chang2Yang Li3Lei Fan4Dake Shang5Huili Zhang6General Surgery, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaPathology Department, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaPathology Department, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGeneral Surgery, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGeneral Surgery, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGeneral Surgery, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaGeneral Surgery, China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, Beijing, ChinaSubhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess is an uncommon clinical condition due to anatomical variations in the appendix’s position. Here, we report an unusual case of a 56-year-old male who initially presented with right abdominal pain and fever, misdiagnosed as bilateral kidney stones and urinary tract infection. Subsequent abdominal CT(Computed Tomography) scans revealed subhepatic appendicitis with a hepatic abscess located in segment VI of the liver. The patient underwent successful laparoscopic appendectomy and hepatic abscess drainage. Unexpectedly, histopathological examination of the appendix demonstrated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a rare form of primary appendiceal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis, with tumor cells positive for CD20, CD79a, Bcl-6, and c-Myc, and a high Ki-67 proliferative index (>90%). This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with atypically positioned appendicitis and underscores the importance of pathological evaluation in detecting rare underlying malignancies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1591905/fullsubhepatic appendicitisliver abscessdiffuse large B-cell lymphomanon-Hodgkin lymphomaappendectomycase report
spellingShingle Hao Chen
Miao Yu
Zhanping Chang
Yang Li
Lei Fan
Dake Shang
Huili Zhang
Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
Frontiers in Oncology
subhepatic appendicitis
liver abscess
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
appendectomy
case report
title Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
title_full Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
title_fullStr Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
title_short Case Report: subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the appendix: first reported case
title_sort case report subhepatic appendicitis complicated by hepatic abscess as the initial presentation of primary diffuse large b cell lymphoma of the appendix first reported case
topic subhepatic appendicitis
liver abscess
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
appendectomy
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1591905/full
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