Association of primary pleural effusion lymphoma of T-cell origin and human herpesvirus 8 in a human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative man

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2001 Sep;125(9):1246-8. doi: 10.5858/2001-125-1246-AOPPEL.

Abstract

We describe a case of an 87-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative man who developed a primary pleural lymphoma without any identifiable tumor mass associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. A large T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed based on morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings. The HHV-8 DNA sequences were detected using specific polymerase chain reaction amplification in the lymphomatous effusion. Study of the patient's serum confirmed the HHV-8 infection. This case report displays the characteristic features of HHV-8-related body cavity-based lymphoma/primary effusion lymphoma previously reported in HIV-seronegative patients, except that it is of T-cell origin. Whether this case may be included or not within the primary effusion lymphoma entity, the association of a pleural T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with HHV-8 infection raises the question of the possible occurrence of T cells as the target of malignant transformation associated with HHV-8 infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Algeria / ethnology
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • France
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Herpesviridae Infections / complications*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human* / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / virology*
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / immunology
  • Pleural Effusion / pathology*
  • Pleural Effusion / virology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • DNA, Viral