Celiac disease and fulminant T lymphoma detected too late in a 35-year-old female patient: Case report

Marinko Marušić; Saša Gulić; Slavko Gašparov; Ante Bilić; Dragan Jurčić; Branimir Vučković; Gabrijela Stanić; Krešimir Luetić; Anto Dominković; Tena Sučić

doi:10.17305/bjbms.2011.2573

Authors

Marinko Marušić Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, University Department of Medicine
Saša Gulić Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, University Department of Medicine
Slavko Gašparov Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital “Merkur”
Ante Bilić Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, University Department of Medicine
Dragan Jurčić Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”, University Department of Medicine
Branimir Vučković Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”
Gabrijela Stanić Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”
Krešimir Luetić Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”
Anto Dominković Department of gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”
Tena Sučić Department of Radiology, Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh”

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2011.2573

Keywords:

Celiac disease, EATL (Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma), RCD refractory celiac disease

Abstract

Celiac disease is the most common chronic gastroenterological autoimmune disease characterized by gluten intolerance. The diagnosis of celiac disease and enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma is often made when it is too late.

Case report describes a 35-year-old female patient managed for one year under the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and admitted to our hospital for exacerbation of the underlying disease. However, inflammatory bowel disease was ruled out by diagnostic work-up, while the clinical picture and the findings obtained raised suspicion of lymphoma. The patient’s condition was additionally complicated by fulminant course of the disease and ileus.

Conclusion:Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the disease, and follow up of family members are crucial to prevent intestinal lymphoma development.