The American journal of case reports
Cure8 research brief
Why This Matters
A rapidly growing abdominal mass or unexplained systemic decline in someone with Crohn's disease may represent a rare malignancy (plasmablastic neoplasm) rather than infection or a disease flare; prompt biopsy is important. The case does not prove biologic drugs caused the cancer.
Who Should Pay Attention
Adults with severe or fistulizing Crohn's disease, patients on biologic/immunosuppressive therapy, gastroenterologists and oncologists
Study Snapshot
Story typeResearch paper
Evidence typeResearch paper
Source depthJournal abstract
What To Know
The report describes a 44-year-old woman with severe fistulizing Crohn's disease on prior adalimumab, infliximab, and ustekinumab who developed progressive systemic deterioration and a >22 cm intra-abdominal/pelvic mass.
Core-needle biopsy favored a plasmablastic neoplasm (immunostains CD38, CD138, MUM1, c-MYC positive) consistent with plasmablastic lymphoma, though limited testing left plasmablastic myeloma as an alternative possibility.
Extensive chemotherapy was not possible because of poor functional status, multiorgan dysfunction, severe malnutrition, and active infections; the patient received palliative care and died. The report does not establish that biologic therapy caused the malignancy.
The authors emphasize urgent tissue diagnosis when systemic deterioration is discordant with apparent intestinal disease control.
Keep In Mind
Single case report summarized from the article abstract. Key diagnostic tests were incomplete, so a definitive distinction between plasmablastic lymphoma and plasmablastic myeloma could not be made. The report explicitly cautions against inferring drug-specific causation.
Source Details
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Research paper
Evidence type derived from source or registry metadata.
PublicationThe American journal of case reports
AuthorsPrzemysław Znamirowski, Kaja Głowacka, Łukasz Nawacki +1 more
InstitutionDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Study typeJournal article, case reports
Indexed viaPubMed
Source typeResearch paper
PublishedOct 9, 2026, 12:00 AM
Content availableJournal abstract
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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