A Case Of Natural Killer Cell Lymphoma With Elevated Adenosine Deaminase Level In Pleural Effusion

pleural tuberculosis is still a medical problem in developing countries. The clinical presentation of tuberculous (TB) pleuritis is different to carcinomatosis because that pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has been proposed as a useful diagnostic test in tuberculous. Therefore, its diagnosis is not difficult only with laboratory investigations. Pleuritis with pleural fluid, as many studies reported high ADA levels in TB pleuritis. On the other hand, ADA activity is usually lower in pleural carcinomatosis and malignant pleural fluid. This study described a patient with NK/T cell lymphoma with elevated (316 U/L) ADA levels. This study focused on the high value of ADA in lymphoma. Because the cytological examintion of the pleural effusion showed malignancy, We finally diagnosed the case as NK/T cell lymphoma from CT-guided needle biopsy. In this case, the high level of ADA in the pleural effusion suggested lymphoma.it should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis in patients with high pleural fluid ADA levels.