Epstein-Barr virus infection in salivary gland tumors in children and young adults

BACKGROUND, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been implicated in the p athogenesis of certain subtypes of salivary gland tumors in the adult popul ation. However, to the authors' knowledge its role in pediatric salivary gl and tumors, a rare disease, has not been explored previously. METHODS, Thirteen cases of primary tumors of the salivary gland occurring i n children were retrieved from the tumor registry at the St. Jude Children' s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Clinical data were analyzed from the medical records and formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tumor tissues we re examined by the in situ hybridization (ISH) technique for the presence o f latent EBV infection. RESULTS, Twelve of 13 tumors originated from the parotid gland and 1 origin ated from the submandibular gland. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the predomi nant tumor type; it was observed in seven patients, rhabdomyosarcoma was th e diagnosis in three patients, acinic cell carcinoma was noted in two patie nts, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma was diagnosed in one patient. The a ges of the patients ranged from 4.1-29.2 years, with a median age of 11 yea rs. The outcome was excellent with all patients alive and free of disease a t the time of last follow-up. The ISH tested negative in all tumor samples. CONCLUSIONS. Based on the results of the current study, EBV infection does not appear to play a major role in the pathogenesis of pediatric salivary g land tumors. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.