[Plasmablastic lymphoma in a patient with HIV infection: an unusual case located in the skin].
We report the case of a plasmablastic lymphoma involving the skin in a 45 year-old HIV-positive patient. Plasmablastic lymphoma was first described in 1997 and is considered to be a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a unique immunophenotype and a predilection for the oral cavity. In this case, the tumor was revealed by multiple purple cutaneous nodules predominantly localized on the trunk and proximal parts of the limbs. A skin biopsy led to the diagnosis of plasmablastic lymphoma in view of the presence of a dense nodular infiltrate invading the dermis and subcutaneous fat composed of large cells that expressed neither the leucocyte common antigen nor the B- and T-cell antigens CD20 and CD3, but which showed a strong immunostaining with plasma cell marker VS38c. Most of the cells expressed Kappa light chain of immunoglobulins, they did not express Lambda light chain. In situ hybridization with EBER probe revealed detection of Epstein Barr virus in about 15 % of tumor cells. The clinical course was aggressive and rapidly fatal. Despite one cycle chemotherapy the patient died four months after presentation. HIV-associated plasmablastic lymphoma is a poor prognosis malignancy that may resist typing due to the lack of expression of commonly used lymphoid markers.
Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Nord, Bd Pierre Dramard, 13916 Marseille 20. Jdales@mail.ap-hm.fr
Jean-Philippe
JP
Dales
Anass
A
Harket
Denis
D
Bagnères
Lucile
L
Andrac-Meyer
Luc
L
Xerri
Yves
Y
Frances
Colette
C
Taranger-Charpin
D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010950:Plasma Cells; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology