title: Complete regression of massive cardiac involvement associated with acute T cell leukemia following chemotheraphy.
abstract: Adult T cell leukemia/lymphomas are aggressive disorders, which infiltrate not only the bone marrow but extensively the visceral organs as well. A case with left ventricular systolic dysfunction with myocardial infiltration and massive pericardial effusion which was demonstrated with echocardiography is discussed. The patient responded well to pericardial drainage and subsequent chemotherapy. The dramatic improvement in echocardiographic findings after chemotherapy gave a clue to investigate suspected patients with aggressive leukemia and lymphomas for exclusion of leukemic infiltration of myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey. aratnurcan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arat
authors.forename: Sule Mine
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bakanay
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Omac
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tufekcioglu
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Golbasi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology