[HIV- and HHV-8-negative primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma presenting with lymphomatous effusions complicated by cardiac tamponade-a case report].

We report a rare case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- and human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8)-negative primary effusion lymphoma (PEL)-like lymphoma presenting with lymphomatous effusions complicated by cardiac tamponade. A 68-year-old woman was hospitalized with generalized weakness in June 2006. Echocardiogram revealed the presence of pericardial effusion and she had the signs of cardiac tamponade. Urgent pericardial drainage relieved her symptoms. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral pleural effusions along with pericardial effusion. Cytologic findings of both effusions were suggestive of malignancies, including malignant lymphoma. Immunocytochemical studies with a panel of antibodies, including CD20 and CD79a, could not provide a definite diagnosis. Flow cytometric analysis of pleural effusion revealed that tumor cells were positive for CD10 and CD19, but negative for CD20, CD23, surface immunoglobulin, and T-cell associated antigens. Clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene was detected by Southern blot analysis. Polymerase chain reaction proved to be negative for HHV-8. The serology test for HIV was negative. After a diagnosis of HHV-8-negative PEL-like lymphoma, she was treated with CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone). However, she died of progressive lymphoma 7 months after the diagnosis. PEL-like lymphomas are of B-cell origin. In some cases of PEL-like lymphoma, tumor cells may be negative for representative markers of B-cell phenotype such as CD20 and CD79a.

Intensive chemotherapy for a patient with primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with Burkitt-like morphology.

We report a rare case of primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with Burkitt-like morphology. A 54-year-old man presented with multiple subcutaneous tumors. Pathological examination showed morphological features resembling Burkitt or Burkitt-like lymphoma (BL/BLL) with high MIB-1 positivity. Cytogenetic studies revealed no 8q24/c-myc translocation. After the diagnosis of Burkitt-like DLBCL, the patient was treated with CODOX-M chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, cytarabine and methotrexate), which led to durable remission. The present case suggests that short-term, high-intensity chemotherapy used for BL/BLL may be appropriate for primary cutaneous Burkitt-like DLBCL, as well as systemic lymphoma with Burkitt-like morphology.

Extranodal adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma of the head and neck: a clinicopathological study of nine cases and a review of the literature.

Extranodal adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) of the head and neck is a rare disease. We studied the clinicopathological features of nine patients with ATLL involving extranodal head and neck sites and conducted a literature review. Six patients presented with extranodal mass of the head and neck, whereas three had disseminated diseases. Tumors involved the parotid gland, sinonasal tract, masseter muscle, mandible and skull. Histopathology included diffuse pleomorphic-type (with angiocentric features), Hodgkin-like and anaplastic large cell-type. Five patients with localised disease showed prolonged survival regardless of unfavourable histology and/or aberrant provirus status, including integration of multiple copies or defective provirus. Patients with localised disease documented in the literature, including our study series, had a reduced frequency of elevated lactate dehydrogenase, no hypercalcemia and longer survival. ATLL should be included in the differential diagnosis of extranodal head and neck lymphoma. Localised extranodal ATLL of the head and neck may exhibit indolent clinical behaviours.

[A Japanese case of human herpes virus-8-associated multicentric castleman disease complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome].

We report a Japanese case of human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8)-associated multicentric Castleman disease(MCD) complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS). A 60-year-old man presented with persistent fever and progressive pancytopenia in June 2004. On physical examination, anemia, icterus, hepatosplenomegaly, and generalized lymphadenopathy were detected. Laboratory findings showed elevated levels of serum ferritin and soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody was negative. Bone marrow aspiration revealed a normocellular marrow with an increased number of hemophagocytic histiocytes. Biopsy of cervical lymph node disclosed pathological features compatible with the plasmablastic variant of Castleman disease. HHV-8 DNA was detected in the specimen from lymph node by polymerase chain reaction. Thus, the diagnosis of HHV-8-associated MCD complicated by HPS was made. The patient was treated with immunotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy. However, he died of bacterial sepsis after one-month therapy. This case report provides some evidence that HHV-8 may be a causative agent of MCD even in HIV-seronegative Japanese patients.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with multiple integration of HTLV-1 provirus presenting as an isolated paranasal sinus tumor: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a highly aggressive T-cell lymphoma and etiologically associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Patients with ATLL commonly present with leukemic changes, systemic lymphadenopathy, and/or extranodal lesion and have very poor prognosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We describe a rare case of ATLL presenting as an isolated paranasal mass. Southern blot analysis of the biopsied specimens demonstrated multiple integration bands of HTLV-1 provirus of different intensities. Chemotherapy resulted in complete resolution of the paranasal mass. Thereafter, the patient showed an indolent clinical course with leukemic changes and pulmonary and cutaneous ATLL lesions and remains alive more than 5 years from diagnosis. CONCLUSION: ATLL should be included in the differential diagnosis of sinonasal lymphoma, although the event is rare. Multiple HTLV-1 provirus integrations of different intensities may be indicative of good prognosis for ATLL.

[Primary pulmonary Hodgkin lymphoma--two case reports and a review of the literature].

Primary extranodal involvement of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is rare. We report two HL patients presenting with exclusive or predominant lung involvement. In both cases, the results of transbronchial and/or CT-guided lung needle biopsy were indicative of granulomatous disease. Eventually, lymph node biopsy specimens revealed HL with nodular sclerosis type and lymphocyte-rich type, respectively. There were no specific symptoms, laboratory and imaging findings for pulmonary HL. A histological examination was required to confirm the diagnosis. Lung biopsy techniques such as transbronchial or percutaneous biopsy may be insufficient to allow diagnosis of HL. Pulmonary HL should be included in the differential diagnosis of lung involvement, even when the pathological evaluation of nonspecific inflammation was made from the biopsied specimens.

Establishment of a human herpes virus-8-negative malignant effusion lymphoma cell line (STR-428) carrying concurrent translocations of BCL2 and c-MYC genes.

A new cell line, STR-428 was established from ascites tumor cells of a malignant effusion lymphoma patient without human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) infection. STR-428 cells showed an immunophenotype of mature B-cells and produced few cytokines related to lymphomatous effusion. Karyotypic and genetic analysis revealed complex translocations including t(14;18)(q32;q21) effecting IgH/BCL2 and der(8)t(3;8)(q27;q24) involving c-MYC. STR-428 represents a unique, B-cell lymphoma cell line carrying concurrent rearrangement of BCL2 and c-MYC genes with features distinct from those of HHV-8-related primary effusion lymphoma. This cell line may be a valuable tool, other than HHV-8, to investigate the pathogenesis of primary lymphomatous effusion.