title: Disappearance of malignant cells by effusion drainage alone in two patients with HHV-8-unrelated HIV-negative primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma.
abstract: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma usually confined to the body cavities of predominantly immunosuppressed patients infected with human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8). In PEL, malignant cells are usually negative for B-cell markers, such as CD19, CD20, and CD79a, but are positive for activation and plasma cell-related markers, such as CD30, CD38, and CD138. It has been reported that HHV-8-unrelated PEL shows high expression of B-cell markers, which is referred to as PEL-like lymphoma. Here, we report two cases of HHV-8-unrelated HIV-negative PEL-like lymphoma in which malignant cells regressed spontaneously after effusion drainage alone. These cells expressed B-cell markers, such as CD20. No chemotherapy was given to either patient, as they were of an advanced age, and both achieved a complete response by effusion drainage alone. One showed a complete response for 16 months after effusion drainage, and the other has survived for 11 months with a complete response. This suggests that sufficient drainage of serous effusion may induce and maintain a complete response in some patients with HHV-8-unrelated HIV-negative PEL-like lymphoma, which represents an excellent treatment option for elderly patients with this disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, 2-1, Hokubu-machi, Imaizumi, Toyama, 939-8511, Japan. terasaki@tch.toyama.toyama.jp.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terasaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, 2-1, Hokubu-machi, Imaizumi, Toyama, 939-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, 2-1, Hokubu-machi, Imaizumi, Toyama, 939-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiyokawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematopathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ichinohasama
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, 2-1, Hokubu-machi, Imaizumi, Toyama, 939-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D006801:Humans; D054685:Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction