AIDS-related lymphoma in Brazil. Histopathology, immunophenotype, and association with Epstein-Barr virus.

ABSTRACT

PIP: While there is a clear association between several types of immunodeficiency-related lymphomas and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the association of EBV infection in AIDS-related lymphoma in Brazil, where the incidence of AIDS is high, has remained unknown. The authors report their findings from an analysis of tissue samples from 24 cases of AIDS-related lymphoma in Brazil. The samples were analyzed for morphologic classification, immunophenotype, and EBV association. 20 cases were classified as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, while 4 were Hodgkin's disease. 11 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were classified as diffuse large cell type, 5 as small, non-cleaved cell, Burkitt-type, and 4 as large cell immunoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 18 cases were of B-cell phenotype; one was a T-cell lymphoma and one was classified as null. EBV was demonstrated in the tumor cells of 11 of the 20 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases and in 3 of the 4 cases of non-Hodgkin's disease.