HHV-8-associated T-cell lymphoma in a lymph node with concurrent peritoneal effusion in an HIV-positive man

Am J Surg Pathol. 2005 May;29(5):647-52. doi: 10.1097/01.pas.0000157937.01624.1d.

Abstract

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an uncommon large cell lymphoma, usually seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. PEL is characterized by various clinical, histomorphologic, and immunophenotypical features, and is associated with the human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8). PEL may present as either a body cavity-based lymphomatous effusion or a solid tumor mass. Most so-called "solid PEL" usually have an extranodal location; exceptionally rarely, they occur in lymph nodes. The majority of PEL consist of malignant cells of B-cell genotype; seldom they are of T-cell origin. We report a rare case of HHV-8-associated "solid PEL" of T-cell type in a 41-year-old HIV-seropositive man with a concomitant peritoneal effusion. The T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed on the basis of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings of a lymph node biopsy. The tumor cells strongly expressed CD45R0, CD7, CD43, MUM1/IRF4, CD30, HHV-8, and EBER, and demonstrated a clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor-gamma chain gene. The following case provides another example of a lymph node-based "solid" PEL, demonstrating the variety within the spectrum of HHV-8-associated lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Conference

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ascitic Fluid / pathology*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Clone Cells
  • Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • HIV Seropositivity*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / complications
  • Herpesviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human* / isolation & purification
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / virology
  • Male

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor