rss
J Clin Pathol 2005;58:1039-1045 doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.026542
  • Original article

KSHV/HHV-8 associated lymph node based lymphomas in HIV seronegative subjects. Report of two cases with anaplastic large cell morphology and plasmablastic immunophenotype

  1. A Carbone1,
  2. A Gloghini2,
  3. E Vaccher3,
  4. G Marchetti4,
  5. G Gaidano5,
  6. U Tirelli6
  1. 1Department of Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, via Venezian 1, Milano I-20133, Italy
  2. 2Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto Nazionale Tumori
  3. 3Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto Nazionale Tumori
  4. 4Department of Pathology, Ospedali Riuniti - S. Chiara, Pisa I-56100, Italy
  5. 5Hematology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and IRCAD, “Amedeo Avogadro” University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara I-28100, Italy
  6. 6Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Istituto Nazionale Tumori
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr A Carbone
 Department of Pathology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, Milano I-20133, Italy; antonino.carboneistitutotumori.mi.it
  • Accepted 28 February 2005

Abstract

Background: Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) associated lymphomas, which often develop in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients with advanced AIDS, present predominantly as primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) or, less frequently, as “solid” extracavitary based lymphomas, associated with serous effusions. These last lymphomas, also called “solid PEL”, have been reported before the development of an effusion lymphoma and after resolution of PEL. Interestingly, KSHV/HHV-8 associated lymphomas that present as solid or extracavitary based lesions in HIV seropositive patients without serous effusions have been reported recently.

Methods/Results: This paper provides evidence for the existence of a previously undescribed KSHV/HHV-8 associated lymphoma in HIV seronegative patients without serous effusions. These lymphomas exhibit a predilection for the lymph nodes and display anaplastic large cell morphology. These tumours were completely devoid of common cell type specific antigens, including epithelial and melanocytic cell markers. B and T cell associated antigens and other commonly used lymphoid markers were absent or weakly demonstrable in a fraction of the tumour cells. Conversely, immunohistochemical studies showed strong immunostaining with plasma cell reactive antibodies.

Conclusions: Analysis of viral infection and immunohistological studies are of primary importance to define this lymph node based KSHV/HHV-8 associated lymphoma with anaplastic large cell morphology and plasmablastic immunophenotype occurring in HIV seronegative patients without serous effusions.

Footnotes

  • The patients gave their informed consent for these case reports to be published.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.