Symptomatic pericardial effusion in Hodgkin's lymphoma: a rare occurrence. Case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Tumori Vol. 98; no. 2; p. 50e
• Main Authors: Adler, Adam C, Cestero, Cesar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biopsy, Needle; Bleomycin - administration & dosage; Dacarbazine - administration & dosage; Diagnosis, Differential; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Female; Hodgkin Disease - complications; Hodgkin Disease - diagnosis; Hodgkin Disease - diagnostic imaging; Hodgkin Disease - pathology; Hodgkin Disease - physiopathology; Humans; Mediastinal Neoplasms - complications; Mediastinal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Mediastinal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Mediastinal Neoplasms - pathology; Mediastinal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Neoplasm Staging; Pericardial Effusion - diagnosis; Pericardial Effusion - etiology; Reed-Sternberg Cells - pathology; Remission Induction; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Vinblastine - administration & dosage; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2038-2529
• DOI: 10.1177/030089161209800223

Pericardial effusion is observed in approximately 5% of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma but is rarely symptomatic. We report a case in which a 21-year-old woman with newly diagnosed Hodgkin's lymphoma was found to have symptoms and radiographic evidence of pericardial effusion. Symptomatic pericardial effusion in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma is extremely rare, with few reports in the literature. The mechanism for the heart and pericardial involvement is reviewed along with a description of the presenting symptoms and differential diagnosis.