title: Systemic EBV+ T-cell lymphoma in elderly patients: comparison with children and young adult patients.
abstract: Fulminant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV+) T-cell lymphoma in immunocompetent elderly patients is rare and its character has not been well defined. This study analyzed the clinicopathological features of five elderly patients (group A: 50-84 years) and compared them with those of eight children and young adult patients with systemic T-cell lymphomas (group B: 10-34 years). Group A more commonly presented with generalized lymphadenopathy (n = 3) than did group B (n = 1). Chronic active EBV infection (n = 3) and hydroa vacciniforme-like eruptions (n = 1) were seen in group B, while group A showed no evidence of chronic EBV infection, but did show chronic hepatitis B or C virus infections (n = 3). The histological and immunophenotypical findings were similar. All patients died within 1 to 14 months of diagnosis. These findings suggest that EBV+ T-cell lymphoma in elderly patients is a unique disease with an underlying derangement of T-cell immunity and failure to eradicate infected virus. Additional factors related to senility may play a role in the disruption of homeostasis between the virus and the host's immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Namdonggu, Guwoldong, 1198, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sanghui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kihyun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Seog
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keon Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hong-Hoe
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Young-Hyeh
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged