title: Dynamics of Epstein-Barr virus load in pyothorax-associated lymphoma.
abstract: We treated a 73-year-old man who developed a pyothorax-associated pleural lymphoma after a 52-year history of tuberculous pleuritis. The lymphoma was classified histologically as a diffuse large, B-cell type. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was identified in the tumor by immunocytochemical and molecular methods. Chemotherapy both without and with the addition of rituximab was only minimally effective, but adding radiotherapy to chemotherapy reduced the tumor size, resulting in a partial remission. The EBV load measured by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction correlated well with the tumor size and the serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration. Monitoring the EBV load may be useful in the management of pyothorax-associated lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shide
authors.forename: Hideho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henzan
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagafuji
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: Yukumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kazuyama
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load