Yonsei Med J.  2009 Dec;50(6):862-864. 10.3349/ymj.2009.50.6.862.

Primary Effusion Lymphoma: An Untrivial Differential Diagnosis for Ascites

• Ceran F
• Aydin Y
• Ozcakar L
• Han U
• Yildizi M

• KMID: 1777106
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2009.50.6.862

Abstract

A primary effusion lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma where serous cavities are involved. That-cause peritoneal, pleural and pericardial effusions without any lymphadenopathy. They affect immunosuppressive patients with human herpes virus-8 being the suspected etiological agent. The prognosis is usually poor despite treatment. Herein, the case of an immunocompetent patient with ascites and pleural effusion diagnosed as primary effusion lymphoma is presented and discuss the case in the light of the current literature.

Keyword

Primary effusion lymphoma; human herpes virus-8; ascites

MeSH Terms

Ascites/*diagnosis
Fatal Outcome
Humans
Lymphoma, Primary Effusion/*diagnosis
Male
Middle Aged
Pleural Effusion/*diagnosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Atypical lymphoid cells with (A) features of abundant mitotic figures, pleomorphism, basophilic cytoplasm with clear vacuoles and prominent nucleoli (MGG ×40) and (B) features of pleomorphism and multinucleation (MGG ×40).

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