Primary Effusion Lymphoma: A Rare Case Presentation

This chapter discuss about a case report to reinforce cognizance of the entity, Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) which is a rare malignancy with high mortality rate. It aims to emphasize importance of thorough history taking and examination in diagnosing this aggressive lymphoma. A primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare form of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that usually occurs in patients with compromised immunity or HIV infection.

We present a case of a 56-year-old African-American male with a medical history of HIV admitted to the hospital with right lung lower lobe pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion. Thoracentesis and pleural fluid cytology led to the diagnosis of PEL. The patient received treatment with chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy (ART). The emphasis is to investigate immunocompromised patients presenting with pleural effusion for PEL, as it is a rare ailment with a high mortality rate. This case report encourages clinicians to consider a broad differential, especially in HIV patients diagnosed with exudative pleural effusion, to investigate further with pleural fluid cytology.