Epstein–Barr virus in CD30⁺ anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the skin and lymphomatoid papulosis in South Korea

Abstract

Background Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders are prevalent in Asia, and less frequent in Western countries. Aim To elucidate the possible association of EBV with CD30 + anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) involving the skin and lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) in South Korea. MethodsIn situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) and immunohistochemistry including viral latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin specimens of 26 cases of LyP and 16 cases of CD30 + ALCL involving the skin which were selected from six university hospital medical centers in South Korea. Results

Characteristics of primary cutaneous lymphoma according to WHO-EORTC classification in Korea

“…ENKTCL was newly included in the WHO‐EORTC classification, but does not appear in the EORTC classification, for PCL. In previous reports, NKTCL was not found to be related to Epstein–Barr (EBV) virus 15 . The proportion of ENKTCL associated with EBV in the recent Korean study was higher than that in Western countries.…”

Epstein–Barr virus-associated tumours: an update for the attention of the working pathologist

“…Earlier reports drew discrepant conclusions in this regard (reviewed in Herling et al 59), but more recent contributions have concluded that both systemic and primary cutaneous types of ALCL arising in Western patients are not associated with the virus 59 60. A certain degree of geographical heterogeneity might, however, exist as rare EBV-positive cases of cutaneous ALCL in Korean patients were recently reported 61. Importantly, a series of 10 ALK-positive ALCL showing histological features reminiscent of nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphomas were found to be EBV-negative, confirming the reliability of EBV detection as a potentially helpful diagnostic tool to distinguish between ALCL and Hodgkin disease 62…”

Epstein-Barr virus–associated lymphoproliferative disorders

“…T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders that have been reported to be EBV associated include a subset of peripheral T-cell lymphomas [78,79], AILT [80,81], extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma [82], enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma [83,84], γδ T-cell lymphomas (hepatosplenic and nonhepatosplenic) [85,86], T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders after chronic EBV infection [87], EBV-associated cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (especially in Asia) [88], and aggressive NK-cell leukemia/lymphoma [89].…”