Splenic smooth-muscle tumors in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: report of two cases of this unusual location with evidence of an association with Epstein-Barr virus

Smooth-muscle neoplasms are rarely located in the spleen. They have been pr eviously reported in five cases of children with human immunodeficiency vir us (HIV) infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two cases of children with HIV infection/AIDS with autopsy and surgical pathology eviden ce of multiple smooth-muscle neoplasms with splenic involvement are present ed. DNA was extracted from histology slides in both cases for analysis for Epstein Barr (EB) virus. In both cases, the presence of EB virus was confir med. This paper documents two additional cases of the unusual phenomenon of splenic involvement by smooth-muscle neoplasms in the setting of AIDS in c hildhood and further supports the role of EB virus in the development of th ese neoplasms.