INFLAMMATORY PSEUDOTUMOR OF THE LIVER - EVIDENCE FOR FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC RETICULUM-CELL PROLIFERATION-ASSOCIATED WITH CLONAL EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS

We describe an ''inflammatory pseudotumor'' of the liver that, which o n detailed investigation, proved that the spindle-cell component of th is lesion is derived from follicular dendritic reticulum cells (FDRC). This contention is supported by morphologic observations and by immun ophenotype. The FDRC population contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is known that FDRC express the EBV receptor CD21. In this particular case, the FDRC contained clonal EBV genomes, EBV RNA (EBER) transcript s, and expressed EBV latent membrane protein (LMP1). DNA sequencing of PCR products showed three point mutations compared with the standard LMP1 sequence of the EBV strain B95-8. The findings in this case corro borate those of other investigators concerning the possible role of EB V in the development of some inflammatory pseudotumors, including the recent production of functionally active EBV-transformed FDRC-like cel l lines. This association could prove instructive in delineating the h istogenesis of these tumors and further assist in making prognostic an d therapeutic decisions.