Human herpes virus 8-unrelated primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma diagnosed by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computer tomography and laparoscopy

Human herpes virus 8-unrelated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)-like lymphoma is a rare type of large B cell lymphoma. This report presents the case of a male with abdominal pain and distension who was found to have massive ascites and enhanced peritoneum, mesenterium and greater omentum on enhanced computer tomography (CT) scan with negative ascitic cytology. The diagnosis of PEL-like lymphoma was established by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and laparoscopic biopsy of the greater omentum. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case report to describe FDG PET/CT presentations of PEL-like lymphoma, and the first case report to use laparoscopy for diagnosis.