ArticleIDCases2026
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma mimicking musculoskeletal nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: A fatal diagnostic challenge.
Article in IDCases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can clinically and radiologically mimic malignant disorders. Accurate diagnosis requires correlation between microbiological, histopathological, and clinical findings. We report a case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) initially misdiagnosed as NTM infection based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity despite negative cultures. Case report: A 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and prior coronary artery bypass grafting presented with a progressively enlarging painful right flank mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an infiltrative lesion involving multiple abdominal wall muscles and extension to the L2 vertebral body. Initial bone and soft tissue biopsies revealed chronic inflammation with necrosis. NTM PCR was positive; however, acid-fast bacillus (AFB) staining and culture were negative. Empirical antimycobacterial therapy was initiated.After three months, the lesion progressed, and repeat biopsy confirmed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, stage IV. The patient received six cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy with an initial metabolic response on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), followed by early relapse despite salvage chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy. He ultimately died of refractory lymphoma. Conclusions: This case underscores the importance of re-evaluating suspected NTM infection with negative cultures when the clinical course is atypical or unresponsive to therapy. PCR positivity alone, in the absence of microbiological culture confirmation and compatible clinicopathological findings, should not be considered sufficient to establish a diagnosis of NTM infection. Diagnostic anchoring to molecular test results without clinicopathological reassessment may lead to critical delays and death.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.