PRIMARY NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS OF THE LIV ER IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS- 3 CASES

The occurrence of primary non Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver has rare ly been reported in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus inf ection. We report 3 cases in these patients, presenting with a single liver tumor in 2 cases and multiple tumors in one case. Diagnosis was made by guided-biopsy. Histologically, there was B diffuse large cell lymphoma in 2 cases, and immunoblastic lymphoma in one case. In one ca se, RNA of Epstein-Barr virus was found in the nucleus of tumor cells by in situ hybridization. No extrahepatic localization was found in an y of the 3 cases. One patient died one week after diagnosis, but the 2 other patients were treated by chemotherapy and were still alive 6 an d 30 months later. In patients infected by human immunodeficiency viru s, primary non Hodgkin's lymphoma should be investigated in case of li ver tumor in order to provide early treatment.