The Epstein-Barr virus in malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the upper aerodigestive tract

Diagn Mol Pathol. 1997 Jun;6(3):134-9. doi: 10.1097/00019606-199706000-00002.

Abstract

Sixty malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas originating in the upper aerodigestive tract have been analyzed for their cytologic type, immunophenotype and association with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The majority of these tumors were B-cell lymphomas of blastic cytology (78%) with the exception of lymphomas in the parotid gland. Large B-cell lymphomas were the most frequent encountered in the sinonasal region and Waldeyer's ring. Twelve lymphomas were of T- or T/NK (natural killer)-cell lineage. They were in the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses (4), the tonsil (5), and the oral cavity (3). Epstein-Barr sequences were detected in five angiocentric T/NK-lymphomas, one peripheral T-cell lymphoma, one lymphoma of lymphomatoid granulomatosis type, one large B-cell lymphoma, and in a lymphoroliferative disorder in an HIV-positive patient. These results suggest that EBV is not involved in lymphomagenesis of B-cell tumors, but is associated with angiocentric T/NK-cell lymphoma in the upper aerodigestive tract.

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Southern
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / virology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology*