Jm. Polskj et al., CD7 and CD56-positive primary effusion lymphoma in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative host, LEUK LYMPH, 39(5-6), 2000, pp. 633-639
Primary effusion lymphoma is an entity with distinctive features. The major
ity or cases are diagnosed in patients infected with human immunodeficiency
virus. We report a case of pleural-based primary effusion lymphoma in an e
lderly patient negative for human immunodeficiency virus. By flow cytometry
, lymphoma cells expressed CD7, CD38, CD45, CD56, HLA-DR, and kappa surface
light chains. A monoclonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain
and the presence of human herpesvirus 8 genome were detected. Our case lac
ked CD30 or CD138 with expression of surface light chains. There was strong
expression of CD7 and CD56. These findings are unusual or unique in primar
y effusion lymphoma. Our report suggests that aberrant expression of T cell
and natural killer cell markers can be seen in primary effusion lymphoma.