title: Cardiac Tamponade Associated with the Presentation of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in a 2-Year-Old Child.
abstract: The anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare entity in pediatric patients. We present an unusual case of pericardial involvement, quite uncommon as extranodal presentation of this type of disorder, that provoked a life-risk situation requiring an urgent pericardiocentesis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a child with pericardial involvement without an associated cardiac mass secondary to anaplastic large cell lymphoma in pediatric age. We report the case of a 21-month-old Caucasian male infant with cardiac tamponade associated with the presentation of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Initially, the child presented with 24-day prolonged fever syndrome, cutaneous lesions associated with hepatomegaly, inguinal adenopathies, and pneumonia. After a 21-day asymptomatic period, polypnea and tachycardia were detected in a clinical check-up. Chest X-ray revealed a remarkable increase of the cardiothoracic index. The anaplastic large cell lymphoma has a high incidence of extranodal involvement but myocardial or pericardial involvements are rare. For this reason, we recommend a close monitoring of patients with a differential diagnosis of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mira-Perceval Juan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Alcalá Minagorre
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Huertas Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segura Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López Iniesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: De León Marrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costa Navarro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, University General Hospital of Alicante, C/Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niveiro de Jaime