title: Primary effusion lymphoma. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare type of lymphoma that presents as an effusion, seldom with evidence of a solid neoplasm elsewhere; thus, cytology is the basic diagnostic method. It usually occurs in HIV-positive males with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and DNA sequences of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) are detected by molecular analysis. The distinct morphologic, immunophenotypic, molecular and clinical characteristics render this neoplasm a new pathologic entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 57-year-old, HIV-positive man presented to the hospital with ascites and absence of neoplasm on radiologic investigation. Cytologic evaluation of the ascitic fluid revealed the presence of highly atypical, pleomorphic lymphoid cells. Immunocytochemistry of the lymphoma cells was positive for CD45 (leukocyte common antigen), CD30 and epithelial membrane antigen antigens and negative for panB, panT and cytokeratin antigens. DNA sequences of HHV-8 were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA ploidy analysis showed aneuploidy. The patient died 5 months after the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional and ThinPrep (Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) cytology, in combination with immunocytochemistry and PCR for HHV-8 DNA sequences, can lead to an accurate diagnosis of PEL. DNA ploidy analysis confirms the aggressive nature of this neoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Cytopathology Department, Laiko Hospital, Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ioakim-Liossi
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mikou
authors.forename: Efi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Botsoli-Stergiou
authors.forename: Efthalia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrakakou
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kordosis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panagiotakopoulos
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karakitsos
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011003:Ploidies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D018396:Mucin-1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens