BACKGROUND: Many studies in the literature have shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. However, the prevalence of EBV in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract has not been fully elucidated. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the presence and distribution of EBV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples obtained from 18 Malaysian patients diagnosed with NHL of the lower GI tract. METHODS: The GI tract lymphoma tissue samples analyzed for the presence of EBV were divided into the following groups: NHL of the small intestine (seven cases); NHL of the ileocecum (ten cases); and NHL of the rectum (one case). The presence of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in all of the above tissue samples was tested for using conventional in situ hybridization technology. RESULTS: Two of 18 cases (11.1%) of NHL of the lower GI tract demonstrated positive signals for EBV/EBER. In the first positive case, EBV/EBER signals were located in lymphoma cells in the serosa layer of the small intestine. In the second EBV/EBER-positive case, EBV/EBER signals were detected in diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the ileocecum. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a rare association between EBV and lower GI tract lymphomas in this group of Malaysian patients.
Herpesvirus 4, Human/isolation & purification , Intestinal Neoplasms/virology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/virology , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , DNA, Viral/analysis , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/pathology , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology , Female , Humans , Intestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Intestine, Large/pathology , Intestine, Large/virology , Intestine, Small/pathology , Intestine, Small/virology , Lower Gastrointestinal Tract/virology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/pathology , Malaysia , Male , Middle Aged
