Multi-cavity Primary Effusion Lymphoma in a Cirrhotic Patient: A Rare Cause of Chylous Effusion.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PE) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by malignant lymphatic effusion in the pleural cavity. Non-traumatic chylothorax is usually caused by lymphomas with a discrete lymph node mass. Our report presents a case where chylothorax and chylous ascites were clinical presentation of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare entity that does not show the typical presence of an identifiable malignant mass. Managing PEL complicated by chylothorax is generally more challenging and has a poor prognosis, as illustrated by a patient in this case who died weeks after diagnosis.