Korean J Med.  2003 Mar;64(3):317-321.

A case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented only as unilateral pleural effusion

• Yang SH
• Jhu IK
• Ji HY
• Son TY
• Koo C

Abstract

We experienced a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented only as right side pleural effusion, that is primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), in a 75 year-old male patient in Korea where is the endemic area of tuberculosis. He visited our hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea. He did not have B symptoms. The breathing sound was decreased on the right side chest, but we could not find external lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly on physical examination. Simple chest radiograph showed right side pleural effusion. The cells of pleural fluid were lymphocyte-predominant and the pH, protein, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine deaminase of the fluid was 7.31, 38 g/L, 381 U/L, 31 U/L, respectively. The biopsy specimen of the parietal pleura was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of small lymphocytic type. Computed tomograph of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and the biopsy of bone marrow were negative for disease. We tried up to 3 cycles of chemotherapy with adriamycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone and there was a marked decrease in the amount of the pleural effusion.

Keyword

Lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin; Pleura

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Adenosine Deaminase
Aged
Biopsy
Bone Marrow
Cyclophosphamide
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy
Dyspnea
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Korea
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Lymphatic Diseases
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*
Lymphoma, Primary Effusion
Male
Pelvis
Physical Examination
Pleura
Pleural Effusion*
Prednisolone
Radiography, Thoracic
Respiratory Sounds
Thorax
Tuberculosis
Vincristine
Adenosine Deaminase
Cyclophosphamide
Doxorubicin
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Prednisolone
Vincristine