Intestinal T cell lymphoma in coeliac disease. A case report

Primary intestinal T-cell lymphomas account for about 5% of all primary gastrointestinal lymphomas and are mostly associated with coeliac disease. Intestinal lymphomas are usually discovered during the 4th to 5th decade and constitute an exceptional complication of coeliac disease. This lymphoma is generally a high grade pleomorphic cell lymphoma with large cells. Our case concerned a 30 year old woman with a history of coeliac disease who developed a gastro-enteromesenteric lymphoma. Anatomopathological and immunohistochemical analysis showed an enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma. We suggest that patients with coeliac disease unresponsive to a gluten free diet or with deteriorating clinical condition be investigated for complications such as enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma. It is also important to avoid this complication by detecting asymptomatic form of coeliac disease that needs a gluten-free diet.