title: Cutaneous plasmablastic lymphoma in an HIV-positive male: an unrecognized cutaneous manifestation.
abstract: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and relatively new entity originally described in HIV-infected individuals. This subset of Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV)-related non-Hodgkin lymphomas is now regarded as a distinct clinicopathological category of AIDS-associated lymphomas occurring preferentially in the oral cavity and showing a poor prognosis. We describe for the first time an EBV-associated PBL with an isolated cutaneous distribution on the lower extremities in an HIV-infected heterosexual male and point to the unique clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of this lymphoma. The patient presented with fast growing solid and livid nodules on both legs. The large, blastic tumor cells showed the following immunophenotype: CD138+, CD45+, CD20-, CD10-, CD3-, CD30-, bcl-2-, bcl-6-, LMP-1- and EMA-. The proliferation fraction (Mib-1) was >90%. EBV association was demonstrated by in situ hybridization (EBV-encoded RNAs 1/2). Polymerase-chain-reaction-based DNA analysis demonstrated a clonal IgH rearrangement in the absence of a bcl-2/IgH translocation. PBL in HIV patients may occur not only in the oral cavity, but can probably involve any other organs including the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. phaeusermann@uhbs.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Häusermann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buess
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Itin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battegay
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Buechner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone