Primary effusion lymphoma with skin involvement

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Pathology

Background:

• Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) is a distinct clinicopathological entity, historically defined by its body cavity-based nature without a contiguous tumor mass.
• This report focuses on a unique case presentation of PEL in a 67-year-old Japanese female.

Observation:

• The patient presented with significant pericardial effusion and multiple erythematous skin lesions on the hypogastrium and inguinal region.
• Histopathological examination revealed diffuse infiltration of large neoplastic B cells extending from the dermis to the subcutis.
• Notably, the pericardial effusion resolved spontaneously without therapeutic intervention.

Findings:

• The skin eruption, despite multiple chemotherapy rounds, proved refractory to treatment.
• The disease course was characterized by the absence of any identifiable contiguous tumor mass throughout.
• The patient ultimately experienced multiple organ failure, leading to a fatal outcome.

Implications:

• This case highlights the diverse and aggressive clinical manifestations of Primary Effusion Lymphoma.
• It underscores the importance of considering PEL in the differential diagnosis of body cavity effusions and unusual skin infiltrates.
• Further research into the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for PEL is warranted to improve patient outcomes.