Peripheral T-cell lymphomas: a clinicopathological and immunological study of 10 cases

Diagnosis and classification of T-cell lymphomas is notoriously difficult. Existing classification schemes are insufficient. Some clinicopathologically well defined T-cell lymphomas exist (mycosis fungoides, Sézary's syndrome, and T-lymphoblastic lymphomas) but the remaining tumours, frequently called peripheral T-cell lymphomas, are a heterogeneous group, clinically, morphologically and immunologically. The data on 10 peripheral T-cell lymphomas are presented and compared to data from the literature. Patients were elderly, had a high frequency of extranodal localizations (notably the skin 75%) and had a poor prognosis: five of 10 patients have died, median survival 22 months. Morphologically and immunophenotypically the group is very heterogeneous. The variety of blast cell morphology is emphasized. No correlations were found between immunophenotype and prognosis, or immunophenotype and morphology.     

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological study of 41 cases and evaluation of the prognostic significance of the updated Kiel classification

A total of 41 non-cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphomas were classified following the updated Kiel classification. Of these, 20 cases belonged to the low-grade group (T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, 3; lymphoepithelioid, 5; angioimmunoblastic, 4; pleomorphic small cell, 8) and 21 to the high grade group (pleomorphic medium and large cell, 11; immunoblastic, 3; large-cell anaplastic Ki-1 positive, 7). Seventy per cent showed a CD4+/CD8-phenotype, 39% a defective phenotype and 88% an activation phenotype. Eighty per cent had B-symptoms, 63% hepatomegaly, 48% splenomegaly and 26% had involvement of more than three lymphoid areas. Bone marrow was infiltrated in 34% central nervous system in 4%, lung in 12% and skin in 14.6%. Seventeen per cent presented with extranodal disease and 82.8% had stage III/IV disease. Hypergammaglobulinaemia was found in 29%, hypercalcaemia in 7%, raised LDH serum levels in 58% and HTLV-I antibodies in only one case. Of the 37 treated patients 18 (48%) achieved a complete remission, but 33% relapsed. Mortality was 59% and actuarial overall survival at 38 months was 0.32. In the comparison of the clinical, analytical and immunophenotypic variables and outcome between low and high grade groups, only the average of bone marrow infiltration in the low grade and stage I–II, presence of defective phenotypes and higher Ki-67 positivity in the high grade group were significantly different. In the statistical studies, extranodal prentation and the failure to achieve a complete remission were the only variables that influenced mortality; there weere no significant differences in the general features of the low and high grade groups and only minor differences were found in the immunoblastic and angioimmunoblastic subgroups. There were no differences in the actuarial survival between the low and high grade groups, among the subgroups of the Kiel classification, among stages I to IV, between patients with or without B-symptoms, with or without defective phenotypes, Ki-67 positivity over or under 60%, or among different CD4/CD8 phenotypes. The updated Kiel classification did not separate groups with a prognostic significance.     

Mantle cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological study of 55 cases

A recently described unifying proposal for mantle cell lymphoma has led to the formulation of strict diagnostic criteria based on morphology, immunology and molecular data to define this specific entity. Previous studies were often based on broader definitions such as centrocytic lymphoma, intermediately differentiated lymphoma or mantle zone lymphoma and, therefore, included a variety of entities with some, but not all, features ascribed to the mantle cell lymphoma. Since the publication of the unifying proposal no comprehensive studies have been published to confirm and support it. We selected 55 cases of mantle cell lymphoma collected in our institution in order to evaluate the validity of the proposal and, by using strict criteria, we analysed the morphological features, their variations and the changes occurring in the course of the disease as well as its clinical behaviour. The analysis of this material demonstrates that mantle cell lymphoma affects predominantly elderly males presenting with an advanced stage of disease. Twenty-four out of 55 patients died with, or of, the disease with a median survival of 32 months, even though most of them received aggressive chemotherapy. In all cases the histological features were strikingly uniform and most cases had a diffuse growth pattern. The neoplastic cells corresponded to small cleaved cells with a minimal variation in shape and size from one case to the other. The phenotype of the neoplastic cells was remarkably constant with expression of several pan-B cell markers, IgM, IgD and CD5, and lack of CD10 and CD23. Sixteen cases, which were followed by consecutive biopsies, showed only slight morphological changes during the course of the disease and only four cases showed histological progression. Forty cases were documented by cytogenetics, of which 15 showed t(11; 14)(q13;q32). We examined 28 cases for DNA rearrangement of the BCL-1 locus; it was detected in 50% of the cases, with most breakpoints occurring at the major translocation cluster. This study demonstrates that when selection criteria are strictly applied, mantle cell lymphoma represents a disease entity with a uniform presentation, distinctive morphology, immunophenotype and a strong association with t(11;14)(q13;q32).     

Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type: a clinicopathological study of six cases

Aims:  To investigate the clinicopathological features of six unusual cases of nodal CD56+ and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)+ T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma, a putative nodal counterpart of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type) in comparison with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma with secondary lymph node involvement ( n  = 24) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of cytotoxic molecule (CTM)+ and EBV+ type ( n  = 21).
Methods and results:  All cases of nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma of nasal type exhibited diffuse infiltration of pleomorphic medium-sized to large tumour cells, reminiscent of those in CTM+ EBV+ PTCL. The tumour cells had a typical phenotype of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: CD2+, CD3ε+, CD4−, CD5−, CD56+, T-cell intracellular antigen-1+, granzyme B+, perforin+ and EBV+. However, four of six cases demonstrated clonal T-cell receptor γ-gene rearrangement on polymerase chain reaction analysis, unlike nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Comparison of clinical parameters and overall survival among the three groups demonstrated only minor differences.
Conclusions:  Nodal T/NK-cell lymphoma may occupy the grey zone between extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma and nodal CTM+ PTCL in a spectrum of NK to T-cell lymphomas that are EBV+. The close relationship between NK/T-cell lymphomas and cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas was also substantiated.     

Demonstration of clonality in T-cell lymphoma using an anti-T-cell receptor variable region antibody panel

Frozen sections from 35 T-cell lymphomas were stained with the Diversi-T alpha beta T-Cell Receptor panel which includes seven antibodies to T-cell receptor variable region gene products. In five cases a monoclonal population of T-cells could be demonstrated (one case V beta 5+, three cases V beta 8+ and one case V beta 6+) and in a further case a biclonal population (V beta 5+ and V beta 8+). We conclude that this antibody panel is of limited usefulness for the demonstration of clonality in T-cell lymphoma.     

Nasal T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological and immunophenotypic analysis of 13 cases

Thirteen cases of nasal lymphomas with T-cell or natural killer (NK)-cell phenotype were studied, with attention to clinical presentation and follow-up, the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using in situ hybridization (EBER), the immunophenotype, and the presence of cytotoxic granules. All but two patients presented with stage I disease. In three cases local progression resulted in involvement of the central nervous system. When dissemination occurred, this was predominantly to extranodal localizations, in two cases to the skin. Response to therapy was highly variable, but patients treated with radiotherapy with or without additional chemotherapy had a better prognosis than patients treated with initial chemotherapy alone. All lymphomas were associated with EBV, and most cases howed cytotoxic features, ten of which were CD56 positive. In eight cases a T-cell origin was proven, but in five ases a possible NK-cell origin could not be excluded, No clinical differences were seen between true T-cell lymphomas and possible NK-cell neoplasms. Nasal T-cell lymphomas should be considered as a distinct clinicopathological entity, strongly associated with EBV, and with cytotoxic features in most cases. No prognostic parameters were detected to predict dissemination and response to therapy.     

肠道单形性亲上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤12例临床病理学特征

目的探讨肠道单形性亲上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤的临床病理学特征以及诊断、鉴别诊断。方法收集2012至2018年间南京医科大学第一附属医院行外科手术切除后,病理HE切片、免疫组织化学及基因重排证实为单形性亲上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤,并有完整临床病理资料的病例12例,分析其临床及病理特征,完善补充相关检查并获得随访资料。结果12例患者均为单形性亲上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤,男性8例,女性4例(男女比2∶1),中位年龄54岁;发病部位:空肠4例,回肠5例(其中1例侵及乙状结肠),十二指肠、回盲部和直肠各1例;镜下观察:11例肿瘤细胞形态单一,中等大小,核圆形,深染;1例肿瘤细胞呈多形性,核大,深染,可见多核及巨核,异型性大,核仁明显,核分裂象及核碎裂易见;淋巴结转移1例。免疫组织化学:CD3(12/12)、CD8(11/12)、CD43(11/12)、CD56(11/12)、T细胞胞质内抗原(TIA)1(12/12)均阳性,CD5(12/12)、颗粒酶B(9/12)、穿孔素(7/12)均阴性,Ki-67阳性指数约60%~90%,2例患者出现了CD20(B细胞标志物)反常阳性表达,EB病毒编码的小RNA(EBER)阴性(12/12)。全外显子测序:高频的突变基因为JAK3(3/4)、TP53(3/4)、SETD2(2/4)、STAT5A(2/4)、STAT5B(2/4);基因拷贝数变异主要有:3例患者均出现1q、7q、9q获得,以及7p、8p缺失。KEGG富集信号通路主要有:PI3K-Akt信号通路,MAPK信号通路,JAK-STAT信号通路及细胞凋亡信号通路。结论单形性亲上皮性T细胞淋巴瘤是一种罕见的高度侵袭性结外肠道淋巴瘤,临床表现及组织形态学多样,难与NK/T细胞淋巴瘤、肠病相关T、惰性T等肠道T细胞淋巴瘤鉴别,诊断时需结合临床病理、免疫组织化学、基因检测等。     

Monoclonal antibody HML-1 reactivity with adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and other lymphomas

Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a causative virus of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL), is known to be transmitted by breast-feeding. Using a monoclonal antibody HML-1 which labels human intestinal intra-epithelial T lymphocytes, we have immunohistochemically examined ATLL tissues in order to evaluate the possibility that HTLV-1 infected intestinal T cells are the origin of ATLL cells. Previously this antibody was reported to react with intestinal T-cell malignant lymphomas but not with peripheral tumours, or any B-cell lymphomas. We investigated 181 patients with malignant lymphomas and found that 19 out of 113 ATLLs were positive for HML-1. T-cell malignant lymphomas excluding ATLL also reacted with HML-1 (7/24), but all the B-cell lymphomas 0/33) and non-neoplastic lymph node and skin lesions (0/10) were negative for HML-1. In patients with ATLL and other T-cell malignant lymphomas, the positivity level of HML-1 was relatively higher in stomach (3/7) and tonsil (2/6) than that in lymph nodes (15/100) and skin (8/47). We observed one HML-1 positive ATLL patient with tumour formation in the skin and lymphadenopathy and marked infiltration of the large intestine but minimal involvement of other organs. Although HML-1 was frequently expressed in gastric infiltration of ATLL, the level of positivity was too low in lymph nodes to support the hypothesis that HTLV-1 infected intestinal T cells are the origin of ATLL cells. Some of the HML-1 positive ATLL cases co-expressed CD30. Furthermore, three of six cases of Ki-1 lymphoma (large anaplastic cell lymphoma) were positive for HML-1. We conclude that expression of HML-1 in ATLL reflects an activated state of the lymphoma cells, but not the intestinal origin of ATLL cells.     

T-cell lymphomas in children

T-cell lymphomas in children are rare and compromise a rather limited spectrum of entities. Relatively frequently observed are precursor T-cell lymphomas mainly presenting as mediastinal tumors with or without leukemia and ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) with nodal or extra nodal manifestations. In contrast to adults, where peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is the most frequent T-cell neoplasia, PTCL in children is exceptional and remains a challenging diagnosis even for experienced haematopathologists. Other rare T-cell lymphomas occasionally seen in children are panniculitis like T-cell lymphomas, NK/T-cell lymphomas and hepatosplenic gamma delta-lymphomas. Of note angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is never seen in children. Mimickers of T-cell lymphomas like viral or immunological disorders in children are more frequent than manifest T-cell lymphomas and knowledge of these reactive conditions and their differential diagnosis is essential. The recognition of typical histopathological and clinical features along with knowledgeable use and interpretation of immunohistochemical and molecular markers are mandatory for a reliable diagnosis of childhood T-cell lymphomas.     

Nodal follicular helper T-cell lymphoma may present with different patterns. A case report

We report the case of a 62-year-old patient presenting with 3 different patterns of follicular helper T-cell lymphoma. The patient initially presented with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. A nodal relapse in the form of follicular T-cell lymphoma with a progressively transformed germinal center pattern occurred 8 years later. Two years later, this was followed by another relapse presenting as a predominantly large-cell peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified. All neoplastic cells expressed CD3, CD5, and CD2, with some neoplastic cells also expressing CD7. These cells also expressed CD4, with some expressing CD10, bcl-6, CXCL13, and programmed death-1, all of which are characteristic of the normal subset of follicular T-helper cells. The immunophenotype showed a progressive increase in the proportion of cells expressing CD10, bcl-6, CXCL13, and programmed death-1 from the first to the last lymphoma. In addition, neoplastic T cells from the last biopsy sample expressed CD20.     

Acute viral lymphadenitis mimicking low-grade peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A clinicopathological study of nine cases

Acute viral lymphadenitis, especially infectious mononucleosis (IM), often shows the presence of Reed-Sternberg-like cells, resulting in confusion with Hodgkin's disease. However, acute viral lymphadenitis requiring differential diagnosis from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not widely recognized. We describe the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of lymph node lesions from nine such patients which pose serious problems of differential diagnosis from low-grade peripheral T-cell lymphoma. There were three males and six females with ages ranging from 21 to 44 years (median 25 years). All patients had "B" symptoms and multicentric lymphadenopathy. The clinical course was also self-limiting. Each lymph node specimen showed an obvious expansion of an interfollicular area by pleomorphic and polymorphous infiltration with an increased number of arborizing postcapillary venules. The infiltrate was composed of variable numbers of small and medium-sized lymphocytes, immunoblasts, plasma cells in various stage of maturation and occasional granulocytes. The small lymphocytes usually had regular round nuclei, whereas the medium-sized lymphocytes occasionally showed nuclear pleomorphism. Hyperreactivity of B-lymphocytes, including hyperplastic germinal centers and/or foci of monocytoid B-cells, was seen in parts of the lesion. The majority of the interfollicular T-lymphocytes, including T-immunoblasts, expressed CD8 antigen. Various numbers of TIA-1-positive small and medium-sized T-cells were observed in the paracortical area. Despite these findings, the overall histological picture of this series posed serious difficulties when differentially diagnosing this condition from low-grade peripheral T-cell lymphomas such as angioimmunoblastic T-cell (AILD) and T-zone types, indicating that viral lymphadenitis occasionally presents with histological features of AILD and T-zone lymphomas. To avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment, we emphasize the need to pay careful attention to the clinical and laboratory findings as well as the morphological features.     

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the intestine: a morphological, immunohistochemical and clinical study of 31 Chinese cases

Thirty-one cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the intestine were investigated. Twenty-one were of B-cell and 10 of T-cell origin. The B-cell lymphomas comprised two cases of low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue (MALT), one of centroblastic/centrocytic type, three of high-grade B-cell lymphoma coexisting with a low-grade B-cell lymphoma of MALT, nine of centroblastic, three of immunoblastic and three of Burkitt type. Of the T-cell lymphomas, eight were of pleomorphic medium-to large-sized cell type and two of large cell anaplastic type. All the B-cell lymphomas expressed CD20 (L26) and/or Ki-B5; in six there was monotypic immunoglobulin light chain restriction. Membrane positivity for CD45RO (UCHL1) was observed in the 10 cases of T-cell lymphoma, but the tumour cells did not express monocyte-macrophage markers. Clinically, the patients with T-cell lymphomas were usually young males with constitutional symptoms and their prognosis was significantly worse than those of patients with intestinal B-cell lymphoma.     

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma with a nodular growth pattern

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) with nodular growth patterns are very rare, with only 17 cases reported previously. Here, we report a case of PTCL with a nodular growth pattern. The patient was an 81-year-old Japanese woman who complained of malaise, fever and generalized lymph node swelling. Cervical lymph node biopsy was performed, and histological examination revealed proliferation of medium- to large-sized atypical lymphoid cells with indented to irregular nuclei, distinct nucleoli and clear cytoplasm. The nodular growth pattern of the lymphoma cells was obvious. On immunohistochemistry, the atypical lymphoid cells proved to be of T-helper cell origin (CD2+CD3CD4+CD5+CD7+ CD8-CD10-CD25-CD30-CD57-). Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the T-cell receptor gamma-chain revealed a monoclonal rearrangement band. This unusual growth pattern should be distinguished among PTCL, as such cases could be confused with reactive nodular hyperplasia, nodular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma with nodular colonization.     

Histiocytic sarcoma (true histiocytic lymphoma): a clinicopathological study of 20 cases

Large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (T- and B-immunoblastic, centroblastic and true histiocytic lymphomas) have a heterogeneous clinical course. In the present study the clinical and morphological data of 20 cases of histiocytic sarcoma (true histiocytic lymphoma) are presented. Diagnosis was supported by immunohistochemistry, cytochemistry, rosette assays and/or electron microscopy. Although the follow-up was relatively short (up to 144 months, mean 26 months), the clinical data differed clearly from the series of large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, recorded in the literature. Differences were found in age distribution with a peak in the third decade, in organ involvement showing a preference for skin, gastrointestinal tract and bone, and in response to therapy. In general, histiocytic sarcoma appears to have a more favourable response to therapy and clinical course than the other large-cell lymphomas (T- and B-immunoblastic and centroblastic lymphomas). Moreover, preliminary observations in the group of histiocytic sarcomas suggested that the presence of lysozyme and/or 5-nucleotidase and the absence of alpha 1-antitrypsin in the cytoplasm is associated with a better response to therapy and favourable clinical course.     

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma developing at ileocolonic anastomosis site after colectomy for adenocarcinoma

A 69-year-old man underwent right hemicolectomy for colon cancer in the transverse colon in 2005. Two years after surgery, he was admitted with abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor of approximately 4 cm in size at the ileocolonic anastomosis site. In the biopsied samples from the anastomosis site, there was diffuse proliferation of large lymphoid cells, which were immunohistochemically positive for CD3 and CD4, but negative for CD8 and CD20. Clonality analysis of T-cell receptor-beta gene rearrangement revealed a single band, indicating monoclonal proliferation of the T- lymphocytes. Epstein–Barr virus in situ hybridization did not reveal any positive signals in any of the tumor cells. Anti-human T-lymphotropic virus-I was negative. Based on these findings, the recurrent tumor was diagnosed as peripheral T-cell lymphoma-unspecified (PTCL-u).     

Both c-Myc and Ki-67 expression are predictive markers in patients with Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma,nasal type: A retrospective study in China

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is an increasingly recognized disease entity of aggressive tumor progression. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of c-Myc and Ki-67 expression in ENKTL. Immunohistochemistry for c-Myc and Ki-67 was performed on tissue sections from 53 patients diagnosed with ENKTL, and their correlation with clinicopathologic variables was assessed. We also made a comparison between c-Myc positive and negative ENKTL on proliferation index (PI); and analyzed relationship between expression of c-Myc and Ki-67 index. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier product-limit method. Positive expression of c-Myc was shown in 64.2% of the patients, and high expression of Ki-67 was found in 66%. The PI in c-Myc-positive tumor cell was significantly higher than that in c-Myc-negative ones (P = 0.005). The positive correlation between c-Myc expression and Ki-67 index was also found (r = 0.454, P = 0.001). Patients of c-Myc expression were shown to be associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) and decreased progression free survival (PFS) (P = 0.000 and 0.013, respectively). High expression of Ki-67 was also shown to be correlated with worse OS and PFS (P = 0.014 and 0.016, respectively). And patients expression of c-Myc+/Ki-67 high had the worst OS and PFS (P = 0.002 and 0.027, respectively). c-Myc may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of NK/T cell lymphoma by promoting cell proliferation. Both c-Myc expression and Ki-67 high expression in ENKTL patients may be valuable indicators for predicting the survival of ENKTL patients.     

Non-HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphomas show cytotoxic activity: clinicopathological,immunohistochemical characteristics and TIA-1 expression in 31 cases

AIMS: Most primary gastrointestinal lymphomas are of B-cell origin and T-cell origin is very rare. Recent studies have suggested that human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may be involved in the development of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma. We analysed 31 patients with primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in south-west Japan, an area endemic for HTLV-1, and determined their phenotypes, genotypes, and HTLV-1 status. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we present 31 cases of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in a HTLV-1-endemic area in Japan and analyse the clinical status, histology, phenotype and virus status. The median age at onset of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma was 57 years with a gender ratio of M:F = 1.58:1. Six of the 31 primary gastric T-cell lymphoma cases had HTLV-1 proviral DNA (five males, one female), nine of the 31 cases were positive for anti-adult T cell leukaemia antibody, without examination of HTLV-1 proviral DNA (five males, four females), eight were non-HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphoma (four males, four females) and the other eight cases were unknown. Primary gastric T-cell lymphoma usually presented as a large ulcerated tumour at the corpus to the antrum and histologically consisted of anaplastic large cell type (n = 2), pleomorphic large cell type (n = 3), pleomorphic medium and large cell type (n = 14), pleomorphic medium cell type (n = 11), and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma type (n = 1). There were no clear macroscopic and microscopic differences between HTLV-1-associated and non-HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphoma. Most patients died within 2 years of diagnosis, and both types of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma (with and without HTLV-1) were associated with poor prognosis. Cytotoxic marker analysis showed that HTLV-1-associated lymphomas were negative for TIA-1, while non-HTLV-1-associated lymphomas were positive for TIA-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in HTLV-1-endemic areas, patients with HTLV-1-associated primary gastric T-cell lymphoma should be managed carefully and that TIA-1 seems to be useful for identifying the aetiology of this lesion.     

High-grade T-cell lymphoma following treatment with cyclosporin A

A 47-year-old man with persistent severe oropharyngeal ulceration developed a high-grade T-cell lymphoma soon after commencing treatment with cyclosporin A. Using Southern blotting to identify T-cell beta-chain gene rearrangements, evidence of clonal restriction was found both in blood and lymph node DNA samples. Two BamH1 rearranged bands were demonstrated in both samples. In the blood a 16 Kb band predominated, with a weaker 28 kb band. In the lymph node sample this pattern was reversed. The findings suggest that a bi-clonal population of T-lymphocytes or clonal evolution of an existing T-cell monoclone had developed, and that cyclosporin contributed to the emergence of a high-grade T-cell lymphoma.     

Pattern of Epstein-Barr virus association in childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: experience of university of malaya medical center

The pattern of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) usually differs in adults. The most common subtypes are lymphoblastic, Burkitt's and anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Recent data indicate that a higher risk of developing lymphoma is associated in children of certain ethnic origins. The difference is probably related to the underlying etiological factors of these diseases, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a strong candidate. The present study aims to determine the disease pattern of childhood lymphomas in the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur, for a direct comparison to the reported data of adults from the same medical center. A total of 69 and 34 childhood NHL and Hodgkin's lymphomas, respectively, were retrieved. The most common subtypes were lymphoblastic (23 cases), Burkitt's (25 cases) and anaplastic large cell lymphomas (9 cases). Epstein-Barr virus association was more prevalent in B-cell (23%) than T-cell (12%) lymphomas. The most common EBV-associated tumor was Burkitt's lymphoma, and there was an increased risk of EBV association for Burkitt's lymphoma in Chinese patients. In conclusion, the pattern of childhood lymphoma in Malaysia is relatively similar to children elsewhere in the world. The EBV association of B- and T-NHL differs between children and adults from the same medical center because of differences in the subtype composition in these two age groups.