Herpesvirus 8 inclusions in primary effusion lymphoma Report of a unique case with T-cell phenotype

We describe a case of primary effusion lymphoma with T-cell phenotype, mixe d genotype, and intranuclear herpesvirus inclusions visible with the light microscope. Cells were studied by immunohistochemical analysis, in situ hyb ridization, immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement, and poly merase chain reaction. Primary effusion lymphoma cells with T-cell phenotyp e revealed herpesvirus 8 inclusions predominantly seen in apoptotic cells, suggesting that productive viral infection is associated with cell death. C linical features were typical of primary effusion lymphoma. Cytologic, mole cular genetic, and phenotypic features demonstrated a unique variant of pri mary effusion lymphoma.