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Cytodiagnosis of a primary effusion lymphoma. A case report
M S Vadmal1, T F Smilari, J P Brody
1Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.
Background:
Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), commonly described in AIDS patients, is a unique subset of lymphoma in which the neoplastic lymphocytes proliferate exclusively in serous cavities.
Case:
A 27-year-old male, HIV positive for five years and with multiple opportunistic infections in the past, was admitted for sudden-onset shortness of breath caused by a pleural effusion. Cytologic examination of the pleural fluid revealed medium to large atypical lymphocytes with a high mitosis rate, suspicious for lymphoma. Further diagnostic tests, such as immunophenotypic analysis and cytogenetic and molecular studies, confirmed the diagnosis of PEL.
Conclusion:
Cytopathologists and cytotechnologists should be aware of this new entity since additional studies are required for a definitive diagnosis.