Epstein-Barr virus-infected malignant T/NK-cell lymphoma in a patient with hypersensitivity to mosquito bites

Int J Surg Pathol. 2004 Jul;12(3):265-72. doi: 10.1177/106689690401200310.

Abstract

We report an autopsy case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected malignant lymphoma in a young male who had hypersensitivity to mosquito bites. The autopsy revealed multiple confluent lymphoma lesions in the lungs, and on the right leg irregular-shaped skin ulcers were seen. The left pleural effusion also contained a large number of lymphoma cells. The lymphoma cells were determined as T/NK-cell type cells by immunohistochemistry. EBV DNA was detected most intensively in the lungs and EBV-encoded small RNAs-positive lymphoma cells were also observed in the lungs at a high frequency. EBV latent membrane protein-1 expression and a high Ki-67 labeling indices were noted in the lymphoma cells of the lung lesions. These findings indicate that the development of the malignant lymphoma was associated with the proliferation of EBV-infected lymphoma cells, and the cells that infiltrated the whole the body, especially the lungs, caused the patient's death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Culicidae / immunology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / pathology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Hypersensitivity / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Insect Bites and Stings / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / virology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / virology*
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral