Right pleural mass core biopsy (performed at time of presentation).
Microscopic description: Tissue shows blood clot and cells which are large, pleomorphic and show prominent eosinophilic nucleoli. Cells show a nuclear Hof and a lightly basophilic cell cytoplasm with eccentric cell nuclei. The cells are immunoreactive with CD138 and show some weak immunoreactivity with CD45 but no reactivity with CD20, CD3, PAX5, CD30, BCL6 or EMA.
Diagnosis: Core biopsies show features of a high grade lymphoma most in keeping with a plasmablastic lymphoma.