Of the multitude of oncogenic viruses known to man, the herpesvirus is most commonly associated with malignancy. Herpesvirus Type II has been implicated as an oncogenic agent in carcinoma of the cervix. 1-® Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpes-like virus, has been found with striking frequency in isolates of Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 7-18 The purpose of this paper is to discuss the previously unreported entity of coexistent herpesvirus infection of the brain and malignant astrocytoma (glioblastoma multiforme) in three patients. Case reports Case 1. A 57-year-old man was confused and lethargic for 4 months before he was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Hospital for the first time. He had diarrhea which did not respond to tetracycline or penicillin therapy, and a temperature of 100 to 101 F. He was hospitalized 4 weeks in another hospital for treatment of viral pneumonia. After discharge the patient's wife noted that he continued to be confused, repeated questions, and had lapses of memory, especially of recent events.
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