Primary pleural lymphoma is extremely rare, especially in immunocompetent patients.
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Epidemiology
Primary pleural lymphoma accounts for <0.5% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma 2 and ~2.5% of primary chest wall tumors 4.
Pathology
Primary pleural lymphoma may be Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma with diffuse large B-cell accounting for the majority (60%) of cases 4.
Etiology
Primary pleural lymphoma has been described in the setting of chronic inflammation or in immunocompromised patients 1:
- body-cavity (i.e. pleural, pericardial or peritoneal) based in patients with HIV
- associated with tuberculosis pyothorax - pyothorax associated lymphoma
Case reports exist of primary pleural lymphoma in immunocompetent patients with other proposed causative factors 4:
- autoimmune disease:
- EBV infection
Radiographic features
Primary pleural lymphoma may presents with non-specific features 3,4:
- solid pleurally-based nodule
- diffuse pleural thickening
- pleural effusion often associated
Differential diagnosis
Other types of pleural tumors should be considered.
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