Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in Korean peripheral T-cell lymphoma

One hundred thirty-seven patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTL) we re examined for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using in situ hybr idization for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) and Ram H-fragment, lower strand frame (BHLF) and immunohistochemical stain for latent membrane protein (LMP). EB ER was detected in tumor cells in 79 cases (58%); 26/66 PTL, unspecified (3 9%), 3/4 AILD (75%), 47/51 angiocentric lymphomas (AL) (92%), and 3/13 anap lastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) (23%) by Revised European-American Lympho ma (REAL) classification. EBER was detected in 17/36 nodal (47%) vs. 62/101 extranodal PTLs (61%); 21/24 nasal, 12/32 Waldeyer's ring, 9/13 gastrointe stinal, and 20/32 skin and soft tissue PTL. AL was consistently associated with the highest frequency of EBER among the extranodal PTL: nose (19/20), GI tracts (3/3), skin (14/15), and Waldeyer's ring (11/14). In extranodal l ymphomas, coagulative-type zonal necrosis was seen almost exclusively in AL and showed correlation with EBER-positivity (P < 0.01). LMP was detected i n 24 among 107 cases tested (22%). No signal for BHLF was detected in 76 ca ses tested, implying absent or negligible incidence of lytic infection. In conclusion, high incidence of EBV was observed in PTL among Koreans, with p redilection for angiocentric lymphomas and extranodal presentation, especia lly involving nose, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Am. J. Hematol. 60:20 5-214, 1999, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.