title: Extracavitary manifestation of primary effusion lymphoma as a right atrial mass.
abstract: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a subset of large B cell lymphomas and has been mostly associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Rare cases have been reported in organ transplant recipients and chronic hepatitis C patients. It typically presents as an effusion in the pleural and pericardial spaces but rarely disseminates. However, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes and bone marrow has been reported. Diagnosis is based on characteristic clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features. We present a case with a right atrial mass which tested positive for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8), CD20, CD30 and lambda light chains and negative for CD138, kappa light chain, PAX5, Epstein-Barr virus, latent membrane protein 1, CD2, CD3, CD8 and CD56. Bilateral pleural effusions and pericardial effusions were noted which tested positive for HHV-8, CD30 and CD45. The patient responded well to the R-EPOCH regimen with complete resolution of the effusions and a significant decrease in the size of the right atrial mass. This case report illustrates the atypical manifestation of PEL as a right atrial mass.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, N.Y., USA.
authors.forename: Creticus P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Marak
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ponea
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Shagufta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Achuta K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Guddati
keywords: Human herpes virus 8; Primary effusion lymphoma; R-EPOCH; Right atrial mass