Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting with Cardiac Encasement and Pericardial Tamponade

A 52-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer treated previously with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and radiation therapy presented with subacute onset of dyspnea and tachycardia. She was found to have T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with a mediastinal mass encasing the heart and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rasan Cherala, Quynh Lan Dao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University 2022-06-01
Series:Brown Journal of Hospital Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26300/z494-4f09
Description
Summary:A 52-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer treated previously with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and radiation therapy presented with subacute onset of dyspnea and tachycardia. She was found to have T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with a mediastinal mass encasing the heart and a large pericardial effusion with tamponade. We highlight how this rare hematologic malignancy may initially present as pericardial tamponade, and specifically discuss presenting symptoms of subacute pericardial tamponade. Further, we discuss presentation, prognosis and management of T-ALL.
ISSN:2831-5553