Primary effusion lymphoma: an untrivial differential diagnosis for ascites

Primary effusion lymphoma in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient with unexpected unusual complications: a case report

BACKGROUND

Primary effusion lymphoma is a rare, high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that usually occurs in immunosuppressed or human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals in advanced stages of the disease. However, primary effusion lymphoma occasionally affects immunocompetent patients who are infected with human herpes virus type 8 or Epstein-Barr virus. This disease manifests with liquid collections in cavities, producing constitutional symptoms; fever; weight loss; and symptoms related to extrinsic compression, such as dyspnea or abdominal discomfort. Diagnosis is confirmed with cytological or tissue evaluation showing large, multinucleated lymphoid cells with positive specific markers for the disease, such as CD45 and markers related to viral infections, when present. There is no standard treatment for primary effusion lymphoma, but several chemotherapy protocols are recommended, usually with poor results.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of an adult human immunodeficiency virus-negative Hispanic origin woman with primary effusion lymphoma with pleuritic, pericardial, and peritoneal compromise who also had unusual complications during a diagnostic procedure: the accidental rupture of the left ventricle and the development of a secondary left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. We describe the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics as well as the outcome of this case.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary effusion lymphoma is a very rare entity that represents 4% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases associated with human immunodeficiency virus and 0.1% to 1% of all lymphomas in patients with another type of immunodeficiency in regions where human herpes virus type 8 is not endemic. This reported case is an unusual presentation of primary effusion lymphoma because it occurred in an immunocompetent human immunodeficiency virus-negative adult woman without the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma or Castleman's disease and for whom the clinical course after chemotherapy was successful. However, the rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle is a very rare catastrophic event that usually occurs after myocardial infarction. Left ventricle free wall rupture rarely goes unnoticed, but when it occurs, it leads to the development of a ventricular pseudoaneurysm in which the rupture is contained by the pericardium with an organized thrombus and an adjacent hematoma.

Hematolymphoid neoplasms in effusion cytology

Background:

Hematolymphoid neoplasms (HLNs) presenting as body cavity effusions are not a common finding. They may be the first manifestation of the disease. A diagnosis on effusion cytology may provide an early breakthrough for effective clinical management.

Aims:

Study the cytomorphology of HLNs in effusion cytology, determine common types, sites involved and uncover useful cytomorphologic clues to subclassify them.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-four biopsy-proven HLN cases with malignant body cavity effusions and 8 cases suspicious for HLN on cytology but negative on biopsy are included in this study. Effusion cytology smears were reviewed for cytomorphological features: cellularity, cell size, nuclear features, accompanying cells, karyorrhexis, and mitoses.

Results:

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (37%) was the most common lymphoma type presenting as effusion followed by peripheral T-cell lymphoma (25%). Pleural effusion (75%) was most frequent presentation followed by peritoneal effusion (20.8%). Pericardial effusion was rare (4.1%). The common cytologic features of HLNs in effusions: high cellularity, lymphoid looking cells with nuclear enlargement, dyscohesive nature, and accompanying small lymphocytes. Mitosis and karyorrhexis were higher in high-grade HLNs when compared to low-grade HLNs. Myelomatous effusion showed plasmacytoid cells. Very large, blastoid looking cells with folded nuclei, high N: C ratio, and prominent nucleoli were seen in leukemic effusion.

Conclusion:

HLNs have characteristic cytomorphology and an attempt to subclassify them should be made on effusion cytology. Reactive lymphocyte-rich effusions cannot be distinguished from low-grade lymphomas based on cytomorphology alone. Ancillary tests such as immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and/or molecular techniques may prove more useful in this regard.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Negative and Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8)-Positive Primary Effusion Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that presents with serosal effusion in body cavities, without obvious tumor masses. Although PEL occurs in immunocompromised patients that are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive, it also occurs in immunocompetent human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8)-positive patients. Herein we present an immunocompetent, HIV-negative, CD-20-negative, HHV-8-positive patient with pleural effusion that was diagnosed as PEL. The CHOP protocol and talc pleurodesis were administered. HHV-8 plays a causative role in PEL and is important for differentiating PEL from other types of lymphoma. As such, in addition to pleurodesis antiviral treatment should be considered for optimal treatment outcome.

Conflict of interest:None declared.

HHV8-Negative Primary Effusion Lymphoma of B-Cell Lineage: Two Cases and a Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare extranodal lymphoma that typically presents in a body cavity in the absence of a detectable tumor mass and that occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. The neoplastic lymphoid cells are frequently infected with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV). We describe two HIV-negative patients who presented with primary effusion lymphoma of B-cell lineage involving the pleural cavity, but whose tumor cells lacked infection by HHV8. We review the English language literature of HHV8-negative PEL of B-cell lineage and compare these lymphomas to HHV8-associated PEL with regard to clinical and pathological characteristics, therapy, and outcome.