Pleural effusion cytology in a case of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma). A case report.

BACKGROUND

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) presents with subcutaneous panniculitis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome. Many cases of CHP are now being classified as a natural disease progression of subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma (SPTL). There have been no cytologic reports dealing with pleural aspirates in cases of CHP or SPTL.

CASE

A pleural aspirate obtained from a 19-year-old female revealed lymphoma cells and hemophagocytic histiocytes. A skin biopsy specimen showed the presence of CD8-positive lymphoma cells in fat lobules associated with cytologically benign histiocytes with erythrophagocytosis and lymphophagocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Hemophagocytic histiocytes were seen in the pleural effusion from a patient with SPTL.