Plasmacytic Pleural Effusion as a Major Presentation of Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is one of the peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Reactive plasma cells can occasionally be observed in AITL patients’ peripheral blood and bone marrow. Plasmacytic pleural effusion as the presentation of AITL has not been reported before. The mechanisms of plasmacytic pleural effusion are not fully understood. Here we present an 82-year-old male with exuberant plasma cells in his pleural effusion in addition to his peripheral blood and bone marrow aspiration. By presenting this case, we would like to expand the spectrum of disease presentations in AITL and discuss the significance of flow cytometry in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in the literature, which will be crucial to assist the hematopathologist in accurate diagnosis and treatment.