title: Demonstration of human herpesvirus 8 in a case of primary vaginal epithelioid angiosarcoma by in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: We demonstrate the presence of human herpesvirsus 8 (HHV-8) in a primary vaginal location of angiosarcoma (AS) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ hybridization, and ultrastructural direct visualization of viral particles. The latter two techniques for the first time confirm HHV-8 detection in an AS by PCR; these results contribute to the debate caused by the controversial data produced by the almost exclusive use of PCR for investigating the possible presence of HHV-8 in AS, and its possible implications. Moreover, the investigated AS is the seventh published primary vaginal one, and the fourth unrelated to radiotherapy. Interestingly, the affected patient had used a ring pessary for 10 years because of an uterovaginal prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gessi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cattani
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maggiano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: Libero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lauriola
authors.forename: Franco O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Ranelletti
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015622:Epithelioid Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral