Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-positive Sporadic Burkitt Lymphoma

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is detected in 20% to 30% of sporadic Burkitt lymphoma (sBL). However, only a few studies of EBV-positive (EBV) sBL have been reported, and its characteristics still remain controversial. To highlight the features of EBV sBL, we compared the clinicopathologic characteristics of 33 cases of EBV and 117 cases of EBV-negative (EBV) sBL in Japan. EBV sBL showed significantly higher age distribution (median, 42 vs. 13 y; P<0.0001) and higher frequency of patients older than 50 years (48% vs. 16%, P<0.0001). We also revealed the difference of the involved sites. The EBV group showed significantly higher incidence of involvement of tonsil (P=0.027), adrenal gland (P=0.011), and cervical lymph node (P=0.040). In addition, the EBV group tended to have higher incidence of nodal involvement (P=0.078) and involvement of para-aorta lymph node (P=0.084) and heart (P=0.050). In contrast, the gastrointestinal tract was less frequently affected in EBV sBL (P=0.024). In addition, the less positivity for MUM1 (P=0.020) of EBV sBL was highlighted. These results indicate that biological behavior and pathogenesis of EBV sBL might be different from those of EBV sBL. Our results demonstrate that EBV sBL has an aspect of age-related disease and is a distinct clinicopathologic subtype, which should be distinguished from EBV sBL.

Comprehensive Transcriptome and Mutational Profiling of Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma Reveals EBV Type–Specific Differences

“…Its histological appearance is “sky” like with a background of homogeneous tumor cells punctuated by “stars” consisting of macrophages at apoptotic foci. The World Health Organization recognizes three clinical subtypes of BL: endemic BL (eBL), sporadic BL (sBL), and immunodeficiency (including HIV)-related BL (idBL) (2). …”

New developments in the pathology of malignant lymphoma. A review of the literature published from August 2014 to October 2014

“…It is well known that BL is related to EBV as well. According to Satou et al [27], this is also an agerelated feature. In their 33 cases of EBV-positive and 117 cases of EBV-negative sporadic (s)BL from Japan, EBV was present in higher frequencies in patients older than 50 years (48 vs. 16 %).…”

New developments in the pathology of malignant lymphoma: a review of the literature published from October 2014–December 2014

“…Satou et al [25] compared 33 EBV-positive BL with 117 EBV-negative cases from Japan. EBV-positive cases presented in older patients, more often in the tonsil and lymph nodes, whereas EBV-negative cases were more often located in the digestive tract.…”