"Look Beyond the Skin": A case report about chronic pruritus. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quddusi, Fatima I; Youssef, Molly J
• Is Part Of: SAGE open medical case reports. Volume 10(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Pruritus -- systemic diseases -- malignancy -- quality of life; Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1177/2050313X221136008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-313X

Abstract

A healthy 23-year-old female developed generalized pruritus over a year that began on her feet and gradually progressed to involve more than 50% of her entire body surface area. Punch skin biopsies were inconclusive, whereas a two-view chest x-ray was suspicious for lymphadenopathy. A chest computed tomography scan with contrast identified an anterior mediastinal mass which was biopsied and diagnosed as a nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Subsequently, appropriate therapy was initiated resulting in complete resolution of the patient's chronic itch. This case underscores the clinical significance of a comprehensive systemic evaluation in chronic pruritus of unclear etiology.