Bilateral Malignant Pleural Effusion as an Initial Manifestation of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Rare Case Report

Exudative pleural effusion in children is mainly caused by bacterial infections. Leukemia rarely presents as pleural effusion as the first manifestation of the disease process. Bilateral malignant pleural effusion as an initial manifestation that leads to the diagnosis of an underlying acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a rare event. Most commonly pleural effusion is seen as complication in solid tumors such as the lung, lymphomas, carcinomas of the breast and gastrointestinal tract.