Leukaemic pleural effusion as a manifestation of acute myeloid leukaemia: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Haematologic malignancies such as acute and chronic leukaemias rarely present with or develop pleural effusion during their clinical course. We present a case of a young female who presented with unilateral pleural effusion and was diagnosed with haematologic malignancy on pleural fluid cytology. On further workup, a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia was established. The patient was put on chemotherapy thereafter. This case clearly highlights the importance of cytopathology aids in making a diagnosis of rare and unusual presentation in haematologic malignancies.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukaemia; cytopathology; pleural effusion.

Figure 1.. (a) and (b) Chest skiagram and CT scan of the patient, revealing left pleural effusion.

Figure 2.. Cytospin-processed smear of pleural fluid revealing uniformly dispersed haematolymphoid blasts intermixed with mesothelial cells (H&E ×400).

Figure 3.. (a) Peripheral smear showing myeloblasts (Leishman ×400) and (b) FNAC of axillary lymph node revealing infiltration by myeloid blasts (Leishman ×200).