Acute leukemia presenting as pericardial effusion: a case report

Abstract

We report a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who presented with pericardial effusion. There was no haematologic evidence of leukemia at the time of presentation. The pericardial effusion resolved with chemotherapy. Although a common finding at autopsy, clinically evident pericardial effusion is rare in leukemia. It is also extremely rare for pericardial effusion to be the presenting feature or to antedate haematologic evidence of leukemia. Physician awareness is important to make a correct diagnosis.