HHV8-negative primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma with abnormally high levels of KL-6 suspected to be tumor-associated

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman with anorexia since February 2022, followed by abdominal distention despite reduced food intake, visited a hospital in September. She underwent abdominal CT, which revealed liver cirrhosis and a large amount of ascites effusion. After performing an abdominocentesis and histopathological examination, a diagnosis of HHV8-negative primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)-like lymphoma was made. The patient was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. The blood test performed upon admission showed an abnormally high level of KL-6 (24,141 U/mL). Since KL-6 levels decreased gradually after chemotherapy for HHV8-negative PEL-like lymphoma, we hypothesized that KL-6 might be derived from HHV8-negative PEL-like lymphoma.