Pleuropericardial effusions in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A report of 2 cases.

Two children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who presented with pleuropericardial effusions are reported on. Pericardial effusions are very unusual in children with mediastinal nodal NHL. In the first patient, who presented with a pleural effusion and pericardial tamponade, the diagnosis of NHL was obscured by a false-positive report of acid-fast bacilli in the pleural fluid. The second patient presented with a pleural effusion and a pericardial effusion with superior vena cava obstruction. Rapid filling of the serous cavities was a striking feature in both cases. Cytological and biochemical investigation of the pleural fluid and pleural biopsy are of limited diagnostic value. Pleuropericardial effusions in NHL are reviewed. The patients have been in disease-free remission for 18 and 16 months respectively.