Delayed Diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Case Report

BONE TUMORS are rare but clinically significant entities that should be considered when a patient presents with a seemingly benign musculoskeletal condition that fails to resolve within its known natural history. We report on the case of a 48-year-old male who presented with low back and left hip pain following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was diagnosed with an uncomplicated strain/sprain of the left hip, and conservative therapy was applied for 2 months. Failure to resolve prompted the patient to seek a second opinion, from which a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was rendered. NHL comprises a group of heterogeneous diseases that currently are the fifth leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis and treatment of the tumor are discussed.