Massive ascites as a presenting manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Ascites is not an uncommon manifestation of certain solid tumors like gastrointestinal malignancies, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. However, it is unusual to encounter ascites in patients with hematological malignancies especially chronic leukemia. The patient described here presented with massive ascites and blood lymphocytosis. Further studies confirmed the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with ascites. The ascitic fluid was exudative, consisting of mature-looking B-lymphocytes, which were morphologically and immunophenotypically similar to peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and achieved a good response and diminution of ascitic fluid accumulation.
Department of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital & College of Medicine, PO Box 7805, Riyadh 11472, Saudi Arabia.
Neelam
N
Siddiqui
Saeed
S
Al-Amoudi
Aamer
A
Aleem
Maha
M
Arafah
Layla
L
Al-Gwaiz
D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male