Recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in a child due to diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion in children with no identifiable cause is a rare presentation.


METHODS
We report the case of a 4-year-old Indian girl who presented with recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Diffuse lymphangiomatosis was suspected when associated pulmonary involvement, soft tissue mediastinal mass, and lytic bone lesions were found. Pericardiectomy and lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis. Partial clinical improvement occurred with thalidomide and low-dose radiotherapy, but our patient died from progressive respiratory failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffuse lymphangiohemangiomatosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion of unclear cause.
Kothari
Shyam S
SS
Department of Cardiology, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India. kothariss@vsnl.com.
Sharma
Sanjiv
S
Bhatt
Kinjal
K
Ray
Ruma
R
Bakhshi
Sameer
S
Chowdhury
Ujjwal
U