title: Spontaneous regression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma harbouring Epstein-Barr virus: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We report an elderly patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma harbouring Epstein-Barr virus that showed spontaneous regressions with subsequent relapses three times. The patient died of aspiration pneumonia without any anti-neoplastic treatment 5 years 10 months after the initial onset of lymph node swelling. In the literature, there are several reports of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases that showed spontaneous regressions without relapse till the last observation. Over half of the cases were the extra-nodal type. The tendency toward regression of swollen lymph nodes detected by clinicians occurs within 2 weeks after biopsy. If the remaining lymph nodes show a tendency to decrease in size after biopsy without any anti-tumor therapies, the patient may develop spontaneous regression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fukushima-ken Taiyoh-no-kuni Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Rokuo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kazuei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous