Abstract

Background. Lymphadenopathy is a common symptom complex in general medical practice and can be both the primary manifestation of the underlying immune-mediated disease and a sign of an infectious or neoplastic process that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), which initially presents with peripheral lymphadenopathy, is one of the most common lymphomas in young patients (the average age of patients is 30 years) and requires special attention from primary care physicians in terms of differential diagnosis with other diseases that manifest with lymphadenopathy. Due to the complexity of verifying the diagnosis in certain cases, examination of patients with suspected HL by primary care physicians should be carried out in accordance with the regulatory medical and technological documents (MTD) approved in Ukraine – Standards of Medical Care (SMC), Unified Clinical Protocols (UCP). Aim: to determine the role of a primary care specialist in the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma with primary manifestation of peripheral lymphadenopathy based on the analysis of the doctor's adherence to the patient examination algorithm in accordance with the regulatory medical and technological documents approved in Ukraine (Standards of Medical Care, Unified Clinical Protocols). Materials and methods. Сlinical report of late diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (stage IV) and legitimate MTDs necessary for the diagnosis of this disease at the level of a primary care specialist (general practitioner – family medicine doctor) are presented. Results. The article analyzes the adherence to the algorithm of actions by a general practitioner – family medicine doctor in accordance with the regulatory MTDs approved in Ukraine (SMC, UCP) in relation to the diagnosis of HL with primary manifestation of lymphadenopathy in a young patient. Lymphadenopathy requires timely diagnosis at the level of primary care specialists (general practitioners – family medicine doctors) in accordance with the regulatory MTD (SMC, UCP) approved in Ukraine. The presented clinical case confirms that HL, which most often manifests as painless enlargement of the lymph nodes, has irreversible progression with bone marrow infiltration and severe damage to organs outside the lymphatic system. Conclusion. Compliance by primary care physicians with the recommendations of SMC and UCP is crucial for early diagnosis of HL and timely referral of patients to a hematologist for diagnosis verification and treatment