EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS DNA IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF AN HIV PATIENT WITH PRIMARY CEREBRAL LYMPHOMA

The case of a 7-month-old boy with vertically acquired immunodeficienc y syndrome and multifocal primary cerebral lymphoma is reported. Neith er neurological nor neuroradiological findings contributed towards the appropriate diagnosis. Positive Epstein-Barr virus DNA, assessed by m eans of polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid, strongly sug gested a diagnosis of primary cerebral lymphoma, which was subsequentl y confirmed by autopsy. Conclusions The detection of Epstein-Barr viru s DNA using the polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid is us eful for the diagnosis of primary cerebral lymphoma.