Implication of the Epstein-Barr virus in the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma to Hodgkin-like lymphomas.
Low grade CLL/SLL can evolve to a spectrum of various morphologic higher grade malignancies showing Reed-Sternberg like cells. The evolution towards Hodgkin's disease is rare but frequently associated with the presence of scattered RSL cells within the small lymphocyte proliferation of the CLL/SLL. The evolution towards a Richter's syndrome is more frequent and it can exhibit CD30 positive Reed-Sternberg like cells. In these Richter's syndrome cases, regarding the morphology and the phenotype, it seems likely that there is a spectrum of lesions between true HD and large cell NHL. In the present study, the authors report two cases of transformation of CLL/SLL in non immuno-suppressed patients; one evolved to a morphological and immunohistochemical Hodgkin's disease and the second to a NHL (Richter's syndrome) with numerous Reed-Sternberg like cells. In both cases, EBV has been detected within RSL cells by immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization (ISH). So, the role of EBV is suggested in that kind of transformation.
Petrella
T
T
Department of Pathology, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Dijon, France.
Yaziji
N
N
Collin
F
F
Rifle
G
G
Morlevat
F
F
Arnould
L
L
Fargeot
P
P
Depret
O
O
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm