Primary duodenal NK/T-cell lymphoma with massive bleeding: A case report

Primary natural killer/T-cell (NK/T-cell) lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract is a very rare disease with a poor prognosis, and the duodenum is quite extraordinary as a primary lesion site. Here, we describe a unique case of a primary duodenal NK/T-cell lymphoma in a 26-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Abdominal computed tomography scan demonstrated a hypodense tumor in the duodenum. Because of massive upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding during hospitalization, the patient was examined by emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Under endoscopy, an irregular ulcer with mucosal edema, destruction, necrosis, a hyperplastic nodule and active bleeding was observed on the duodenal posterior wall. Following endoscopic hemostasis, a biopsy was obtained for pathological evaluation. The lesion was subsequently confirmed to be a duodenal NK/T-cell lymphoma. The presenting symptoms of primary duodenal NK-/T-cell lymphoma in this patient were abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding, and endoscopy was important for diagnosis. Despite aggressive treatments, the prognosis was very poor.