Cutaneous Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor in immunosuppression

J Cutan Pathol. 2021 Feb;48(2):325-329. doi: 10.1111/cup.13849. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Abstract

A 36-year-old renal transplant recipient presented 15 months post-transplantation with a cutaneous spindle cell neoplasm with features of smooth muscle differentiation treated with local excision. 1.4 years later, a magnetic resonance imaging liver scan with gadolinium demonstrated multiple bilobar enhancing hepatic lesions, in keeping with metastases. A core biopsy revealed morphological appearances similar to the previous cutaneous spindle cell neoplasm. Epstein-Barr virus early RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization demonstrated strong diffuse staining of both cutaneous and liver tumor cells for EBER indicative of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. This is a rare presentation of multifocal EBV-associated smooth muscle tumors first presenting in the skin in an adult renal transplant recipient, which, despite being multifocal and involving the liver, may confer a better prognosis than predicted.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; immunosuppression; leiomyosarcoma; organ transplant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / metabolism
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / pathology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Skin Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Smooth Muscle Tumor* / diagnosis
  • Smooth Muscle Tumor* / metabolism
  • Smooth Muscle Tumor* / pathology