Cardiac Tamponade Associated with the Presentation of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in a 2-Year-Old Child

Abstract EN

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.