The presentation of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) may vary in relation to ethnicity or environmental effects. The objective of our study was to characterize NHL among the Negev Bedouin population, compared to the Jewish population.Retrospective data were collected for 45 Bedouin and 45 Jewish patients who were treated at Soroka University Medical Center between 1990 and 2007.Upon diagnosis, rates of aggressive NHL types, involvement of extra-lymphatic organs, as well as mean LDH were higher among Bedouin. Treatment response was poorer among the Bedouin: overall survival and disease-free survival were higher among Jews (mean of 145 and 168 months, respectively, compared with 70 and 45 months, respectively, among Bedouin; p < 0.01 for both).In summary, disease aggressiveness and poor response to treatment among the Negev Bedouin may shed some light on the pathogenicity of NHL and may indicate a need for more aggressive treatment in different ethnic groups.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-672) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A case is presented of benign pulmonary hamartoma causing episodes of hemoptysis. This is an extremely unusual manner of presentation for such lesions.

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We report a rare case of peritonitis caused by perforation of smooth muscle tumor of the jejunum. In spite of having all the reported presenting symptoms of these tumors, the diagnosis was not made preoperatively. Although histopathologically diagnosis was that of a benign tumor, the subsequent course was rapid and malignant. A complete review of the literature is presented.

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