Abstract

The development of a solitary chest wall mass due to underlying malignant lymphoma is an uncommon clinical presentation. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, can affect multiple organs including the lungs and pleural space. In some instances, there may be preexisting inflammation such as a chronic pyothorax before lymphoma arises in these locations. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may frequently disseminate to extranodal sites, but involvement of the chest wall has been reported in nearly 100 cases. This report details an unusual presentation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from an enlarging chest wall mass and an underlying lymphomatous pleural effusion.

Keywords: Chest wall mass, lymphoma, pleural effusion, pyothorax.