Primary cerebral lymphoma: a study of 47 cases probed for Epstein-Barr virus genome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus genome in primary cerebral lymphomas occurring in the absence of immune suppression.


METHODS
Forty eight consecutive patients with lymphomas restricted to the central nervous system were identified, all of whom had had neurosurgical biopsies performed at the National Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London. Only five patients had some form of underlying immune deficiency; 43 were apparently normal. The tumours were studied with immunohistochemical markers and by in situ hybridisation, using a biotinylated probe to the internal repeat region of Epstein-Barr virus.


RESULTS
All the lymphomas were B cell in origin. Tumours from the five immunosuppressed patients all showed hybridisation, as did two of the "spontaneous" tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the largest series of cerebral lymphomas so far probed for Epstein-Barr virus genome: as more are examined, it is suggested that a small proportion of the tumours from immunocompetent patients will also contain the virus.
Geddes
J F
JF
Department of Neuropathology, National Hospitals for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Maida, Vale, London.
Bhattacharjee
M B
MB
Savage
K
K
Scaravilli
F
F
McLaughlin
J E
JE
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
D015342:DNA Probes