Pleuro-pericarditis as presenting manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The case of a 17-year-old male student with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in whom pleuro-pericarditis was the presenting feature is described. Most cases of leukemic pericarditis reported in the literature occurred in patients with T-cell ALL. Pericarditis is not an uncommon late complication of leukemia, but pleural and pericardial effusions are very rare as a presenting symptom of acute leukemia. The possibility of pleuro-pericarditis should be kept in mind particularly in cases of T-cell ALL. (Newnan, Bridgeport, Conn)