Unusual Case of Isolated Pleural B-Cell Lymphoma

Pleural involvement in lymphoma is rare as the initial presentation of disease in the immunocompetent patient. We describe a rare case of primary, isolated pleural B-cell lymphoma in a 75-year-old female, previously treated for adenocarcinoma of the left lung with lobectomy and chemotherapy, who presented with shortness of breath. A CT scan of the chest revealed a right-sided pleural effusion and pleural thickening. She underwent multiple nondiagnostic thoracenteses. A subsequent surgical biopsy was diagnostic of large B-cell lymphoma.