Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report

ABSTRACT Primary vulvar lymphoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy, comprising less than 1% of all vulvar cancers and an even smaller fraction of extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. Among these, high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma is exceedingly uncommon, with limited cases reported in the literature. Immuno...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: John Lugata, Kristen Riley, Tecla Lyamuya, Baraka Shao, Aisha Mohamed, Elizabeth Skinner, Alex Mremi, Bariki Mchome
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Clinical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70664
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849229078257729536
author John Lugata
Kristen Riley
Tecla Lyamuya
Baraka Shao
Aisha Mohamed
Elizabeth Skinner
Alex Mremi
Bariki Mchome
author_facet John Lugata
Kristen Riley
Tecla Lyamuya
Baraka Shao
Aisha Mohamed
Elizabeth Skinner
Alex Mremi
Bariki Mchome
author_sort John Lugata
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Primary vulvar lymphoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy, comprising less than 1% of all vulvar cancers and an even smaller fraction of extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. Among these, high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma is exceedingly uncommon, with limited cases reported in the literature. Immunocompromised states, particularly HIV infection, are known to predispose individuals to aggressive and atypical lymphoid malignancies. This case report presents a rare instance of T‐cell lymphoma of the vulva in a premenopausal woman, with the diagnosis confirmed through histopathological analysis of vulvar tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind in Tanzania. Case History: We report the rare case of a 46‐year‐old, P1L1, premenopausal woman living with HIV who presented with a rapidly enlarging, painful right vulvar mass with ulceration and foul discharge for 7 months. Pelvic examination revealed a large firm, friable mass with an ulcerated, erythematous surface involving the right labia majora, posterior fourchette, and perineum. She was also noted to have ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. A pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with and without IV contrast confirmed the presence of an ulcerated mass arising in the right labium measuring 6 × 2 cm. Prominent and enhancing bilateral inguinal‐femoral lymph nodes were identified, the largest noted in the right inguinal region, measuring 4 × 2 cm. The radiological findings were suggestive of a right labial ulcerative malignant mass with inguinal‐femoral lymphadenopathy. Staging investigations revealed localized disease without systemic involvement (Ann Arbor Stage II‐E). Histopathological evaluation confirmed high‐grade peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis results indicating that the tumor cells were positive for CD38, CD43, CD56, CD57, CD2, and CD3 but negative for CD4, CD5, CD20, BCL2, and PAX5. The findings favored the diagnosis of a high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma of the vulva, most likely extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma. The patient was managed with combination chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (CHOEP) protocol alongside continued antiretroviral therapy. She showed a favorable initial response with significant tumor regression and remains under close follow‐up.
format Article
id doaj-art-2cac5ada7aee4154bad4800a3eb00ae1
institution Kabale University
issn 2050-0904
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Clinical Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-2cac5ada7aee4154bad4800a3eb00ae12025-08-22T07:33:07ZengWileyClinical Case Reports2050-09042025-08-01138n/an/a10.1002/ccr3.70664Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case ReportJohn Lugata0Kristen Riley1Tecla Lyamuya2Baraka Shao3Aisha Mohamed4Elizabeth Skinner5Alex Mremi6Bariki Mchome7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis USADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaSchool of Medicine KCMC University Moshi TanzaniaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Moshi TanzaniaABSTRACT Primary vulvar lymphoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy, comprising less than 1% of all vulvar cancers and an even smaller fraction of extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. Among these, high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma is exceedingly uncommon, with limited cases reported in the literature. Immunocompromised states, particularly HIV infection, are known to predispose individuals to aggressive and atypical lymphoid malignancies. This case report presents a rare instance of T‐cell lymphoma of the vulva in a premenopausal woman, with the diagnosis confirmed through histopathological analysis of vulvar tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind in Tanzania. Case History: We report the rare case of a 46‐year‐old, P1L1, premenopausal woman living with HIV who presented with a rapidly enlarging, painful right vulvar mass with ulceration and foul discharge for 7 months. Pelvic examination revealed a large firm, friable mass with an ulcerated, erythematous surface involving the right labia majora, posterior fourchette, and perineum. She was also noted to have ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. A pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with and without IV contrast confirmed the presence of an ulcerated mass arising in the right labium measuring 6 × 2 cm. Prominent and enhancing bilateral inguinal‐femoral lymph nodes were identified, the largest noted in the right inguinal region, measuring 4 × 2 cm. The radiological findings were suggestive of a right labial ulcerative malignant mass with inguinal‐femoral lymphadenopathy. Staging investigations revealed localized disease without systemic involvement (Ann Arbor Stage II‐E). Histopathological evaluation confirmed high‐grade peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis results indicating that the tumor cells were positive for CD38, CD43, CD56, CD57, CD2, and CD3 but negative for CD4, CD5, CD20, BCL2, and PAX5. The findings favored the diagnosis of a high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma of the vulva, most likely extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma. The patient was managed with combination chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (CHOEP) protocol alongside continued antiretroviral therapy. She showed a favorable initial response with significant tumor regression and remains under close follow‐up.https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70664chemotherapyextranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphomahigh‐grade T‐cell lymphomaHIVpremenopausalvulvar lymphoma
spellingShingle John Lugata
Kristen Riley
Tecla Lyamuya
Baraka Shao
Aisha Mohamed
Elizabeth Skinner
Alex Mremi
Bariki Mchome
Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
Clinical Case Reports
chemotherapy
extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma
HIV
premenopausal
vulvar lymphoma
title Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
title_full Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
title_fullStr Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
title_short Management Challenges of a Rare Case of a High‐Grade T‐Cell Lymphoma of the Vulva in a Premenopausal HIV‐Infected Woman: A Case Report
title_sort management challenges of a rare case of a high grade t cell lymphoma of the vulva in a premenopausal hiv infected woman a case report
topic chemotherapy
extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
high‐grade T‐cell lymphoma
HIV
premenopausal
vulvar lymphoma
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70664
work_keys_str_mv AT johnlugata managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT kristenriley managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT teclalyamuya managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT barakashao managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT aishamohamed managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT elizabethskinner managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT alexmremi managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport
AT barikimchome managementchallengesofararecaseofahighgradetcelllymphomaofthevulvainapremenopausalhivinfectedwomanacasereport