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Published on: March 30, 2018
Swinging heart caused by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Raúl A Montañez-Valverde1,2, Neal Ivan Olarte3, Gerardo Zablah3
1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Division, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Malignant pericardial effusion is rare in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This case highlights a young male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who experienced cardiac tamponade due to malignant pericardial effusion.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pericardial disease is a known complication of various cancers, often resulting from tumor spread or lymphatic obstruction.
- Malignant pericardial effusion, while documented in solid tumors, is an infrequent occurrence in hematologic malignancies, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old male diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presented with symptoms indicative of cardiac tamponade.
- Diagnostic evaluation revealed a malignant pericardial effusion as the cause of the patient's cardiac compromise.
Findings:
- The case underscores the uncommon presentation of malignant pericardial effusion in the context of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
- The effusion was attributed to the direct involvement of the pericardium by the lymphoma or secondary effects of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Implications:
- This case emphasizes the importance of considering malignant pericardial effusion in lymphoma patients presenting with cardiac symptoms.
- Early diagnosis and management of malignant pericardial effusion are crucial for preventing life-threatening complications like cardiac tamponade in lymphoma patients.
Abstract:
Pericardial disease is a common complication of solid tumors and occasionally seen in hematologic malignancies. Pericardial effusion, when it occurs, is usually caused by tumor seeding of the pericardium leading to a serous effusion or by mass effect from mediastinal lymphadenopathy blocking drainage of lymphatic ducts. Pericardial disease from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is uncommon and malignant pericardial effusion is even rarer. Here we present a case of a 31-year-old male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who developed cardiac tamponade from a malignant pericardial effusion.
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