Human herpesvirus-8–associated lymphoma of the bowel in human immunodeficiency virus–positive patients without history of primary effusion lymphoma

• Published in: Human pathology 2002-08, Vol.33 (8), p.846-849
• Main Authors: Costes, Valerie, Faumont, Nathalie, Cesarman, Ethel, Rousset, Therese, Meggetto, Fabienne, Delsol, Georges, Brousset, Pierre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - complications; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - virology; Biological and medical sciences; bowel lymphoma; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Herpesviridae Infections - complications; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 4, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 8, Human; human herpesvirus-8; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunophenotyping; In Situ Hybridization; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms - complications; Intestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Intestinal Neoplasms - virology; Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpes virus; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related - complications; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related - pathology; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related - virology; Male; Medical sciences; Mitosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1053/hupa.2002.126184

This report describes two cases of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)–associated large cell lymphoma of the bowel in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive men. Immunohistochemistry provides evidence of HHV-8 infection of the lymphoma cells (LNA1+, vIL-6+). In both cases, lymphoma cells were coinfected by the Epstein-Barr virus. One case was of B-cell lineage, but the second one was of null phenotype with isolated expression of the CD3 molecule. However, in the latter case, assessment of B- or T-cell clonality remained elusive. The chief finding for these two cases was the lack of history of primary effusion lymphoma. There was an apparent restriction of the tumor to the large bowel in the first case. For the second case, the bowel tumor was preceded by lymph node and liver involvement. The cases suggest that the incidence of HHV-8 infection in large cell lymphoma arising in the setting of HIV infection (other than primary effusion lymphoma) may be underestimated and that the detection of the viral gene products would be appropriate for greater understanding of the pathogenesis of these tumors. HUM PATHOL 33:846-849. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.