Primary Lymphoma of Bone Complicating Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Unexpected Mode of Prosthesis Failure: A Case Report

JBJS Case Connect. 2015 Apr 22;5(2):e34. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.N.00167.

Abstract

Case: Primary lymphoma of bone is a rare musculoskeletal malignancy that typically arises in long bones. Few cases of bone lymphoma occurring alongside orthopaedic implants have been reported in the literature. We describe the complex case of a seventy-eight-year-old woman who developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the proximal part of the tibia five years after a successful total knee arthroplasty.

Conclusion: Several studies have suggested a link between orthopaedic implants and genomic instability, although true carcinogenesis remains questionable. Lymphoma complicating joint arthroplasty poses a unique problem for orthopaedic physicians due to diagnostic challenges and the unique implications of disease and treatment-related complications.