Cytodiagnosis of a primary effusion lymphoma. A case report.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytopathologists and cytotechnologists should be aware of this new entity since additional studies are required for a definitive diagnosis.
Vadmal
M S
MS
Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.
Smilari
T F
TF
Brody
J P
JP
Koduru
P
P
Hajdu
S I
SI
D000328:Adult; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology