Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary follicular lymphoma (PFL) is an indolent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically involves lymphoid tissues. Gallbladder involvement is exceedingly rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges. Few cases in the literature describe gallbladder follicular lymphoma, particularly in el...

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Main Authors: Mikayla Myers MD, Bassel Dakkak MD, Swapna Sirigireddy MD, Ibrahim Shanti MD, Drew Ferguson MD, Abdelwahap Elghezewi MD, Mustafa Ben Khayal MD, Zakaria Alagha MD, MSc, Ahmed Sherif MD, AGAF, FASGE, Eva-Pattont Tackett MD, FACP
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251342035
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author Mikayla Myers MD
Bassel Dakkak MD
Swapna Sirigireddy MD
Ibrahim Shanti MD
Drew Ferguson MD
Abdelwahap Elghezewi MD
Mustafa Ben Khayal MD
Zakaria Alagha MD, MSc
Ahmed Sherif MD, AGAF, FASGE
Eva-Pattont Tackett MD, FACP
author_facet Mikayla Myers MD
Bassel Dakkak MD
Swapna Sirigireddy MD
Ibrahim Shanti MD
Drew Ferguson MD
Abdelwahap Elghezewi MD
Mustafa Ben Khayal MD
Zakaria Alagha MD, MSc
Ahmed Sherif MD, AGAF, FASGE
Eva-Pattont Tackett MD, FACP
author_sort Mikayla Myers MD
collection DOAJ
description Primary follicular lymphoma (PFL) is an indolent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically involves lymphoid tissues. Gallbladder involvement is exceedingly rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges. Few cases in the literature describe gallbladder follicular lymphoma, particularly in elderly male patients, leaving notable gaps in clinical understanding and management. Herein, we present the case of an 82-year-old male who presented with acute abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Initial imaging, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging, revealed a suspicious gallbladder mass with wall thickening and regional lymphadenopathy, raising concern for malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and subsequent immunophenotyping confirmed a diagnosis of PFL. The patient underwent radical cholecystectomy with lymphadenectomy, and histopathological examination corroborated the diagnosis of gallbladder follicular lymphoma. During follow-up, the patient developed complications, yet no evidence of lymphoma recurrence was observed. A literature review identified 8 similar cases, further emphasizing the rarity of this presentation. Future research should focus on optimizing diagnostic techniques, refining therapeutic strategies, and conducting longer-term follow-up studies to better assess patient outcomes in such a rare disease. This case highlights the need for heightened clinical suspicion and comprehensive evaluation in atypical presentations of extranodal lymphoma.
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spelling doaj-art-ca264dfb9d7645d8a3719fe76f1a036a2025-08-20T03:48:14ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports2324-70962025-05-011310.1177/23247096251342035Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature ReviewMikayla Myers MD0Bassel Dakkak MD1Swapna Sirigireddy MD2Ibrahim Shanti MD3Drew Ferguson MD4Abdelwahap Elghezewi MD5Mustafa Ben Khayal MD6Zakaria Alagha MD, MSc7Ahmed Sherif MD, AGAF, FASGE8Eva-Pattont Tackett MD, FACP9Joan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAJoan Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USAPrimary follicular lymphoma (PFL) is an indolent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically involves lymphoid tissues. Gallbladder involvement is exceedingly rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges. Few cases in the literature describe gallbladder follicular lymphoma, particularly in elderly male patients, leaving notable gaps in clinical understanding and management. Herein, we present the case of an 82-year-old male who presented with acute abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Initial imaging, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging, revealed a suspicious gallbladder mass with wall thickening and regional lymphadenopathy, raising concern for malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and subsequent immunophenotyping confirmed a diagnosis of PFL. The patient underwent radical cholecystectomy with lymphadenectomy, and histopathological examination corroborated the diagnosis of gallbladder follicular lymphoma. During follow-up, the patient developed complications, yet no evidence of lymphoma recurrence was observed. A literature review identified 8 similar cases, further emphasizing the rarity of this presentation. Future research should focus on optimizing diagnostic techniques, refining therapeutic strategies, and conducting longer-term follow-up studies to better assess patient outcomes in such a rare disease. This case highlights the need for heightened clinical suspicion and comprehensive evaluation in atypical presentations of extranodal lymphoma.https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251342035
spellingShingle Mikayla Myers MD
Bassel Dakkak MD
Swapna Sirigireddy MD
Ibrahim Shanti MD
Drew Ferguson MD
Abdelwahap Elghezewi MD
Mustafa Ben Khayal MD
Zakaria Alagha MD, MSc
Ahmed Sherif MD, AGAF, FASGE
Eva-Pattont Tackett MD, FACP
Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
title Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_fullStr Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_short Follicular Lymphoma of the Gallbladder in an Octogenarian: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_sort follicular lymphoma of the gallbladder in an octogenarian a case report and literature review
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251342035
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