Diagnostics, Vol. 13, Pages 370: Primary Effusion Lymphoma: A Rare and Challenging Diagnosis for Recurrent Pleural Effusion

Diagnostics, Vol. 13, Pages 370: Primary Effusion Lymphoma: A Rare and Challenging Diagnosis for Recurrent Pleural Effusion

Diagnostics doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13030370

Authors: Letícia Jacome Pereira Sara Mohrbacher Precil Diego Miranda de Menezes Neves Flavia Fernandes Silva Zacchi Ivan Ucella Dantas Medeiros Victor Augusto Hamamoto Sato Érico Souza Oliveira Leonardo Victor Barbosa Pereira Américo Lourenço Cuvello-Neto Otávio Baiocchi Pedro Renato Chocair

Primary Effusion Lymphoma is an extremely rare and aggressive subtype of B-cell lymphoma, accounting for only <1% of all cases of this neoplasm. It has a unique clinical presentation because it has a predilection for appearing in body cavities, such as the pleural space, pericardium and peritoneum. It mainly affects immunocompromised individuals and may also affect individuals in the Mediterranean region and in areas endemic for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Herein, we report the case of an 83-year-old immunocompetent male complaining of coughing, fever and progressive dyspnea for 3 days. His past medical history revealed a recurrent pleural effusion for the last three years, as well as losing weight and malaise. A subsequent investigation revealed a PEL diagnosis of the pleura.