EXTRANODAL HEAD AND NECK LYMPHOMAS IN GUATEMALA - HIGH-FREQUENCY OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS-ASSOCIATED SINONASAL LYMPHOMAS

Sinonasal lymphomas of T cell or natural killer cell (T/NK cell) pheno type represent a subset of extranodal head and neck lymphomas. T/NK ce ll sinonasal lymphomas have been described in diverse geographic setti ngs, including China, Japan, Peru, Northern Europe, and North America. The frequency of these lymphomas is highly dependent on the geographi c location in which they occur, their incidence being low in Europe an d North America and relatively high in Asian countries and in Peru. Re gardless of their geographic location, they are typically associated w ith the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Few studies have addressed the relat ive frequency of sinonasal lymphoma within the group of extranodal hea d and neck lymphomas. We investigated the anatomic distribution, immun ophenotypical profile, and EBV status of 33 cases of extranodal head a nd neck lymphoma from patients in Guatemala. The anatomic distribution of these lymphomas is similar to that seen in Asian countries: 17 (52 %) in the sinonasal area, five (15%) in the palate, and 11 (33%) in ot her locations, Fifteen (88%) of the 17 sinonasal lymphomas showed a T or null cell phenotype with a strong association with EBV by in situ h ybridization. Most Guatemalan patients with these lymphomas were of Ma yan descent. In Guatemala, the relative frequency of sinonasal lymphom as within the group of head and neck lymphomas is significantly higher than that reported for Western countries. In addition, the relative f requency of T/NK versus B cell sinonasal lymphomas is higher than that described in North America and similar to that observed in Asian coun tries and Peru. HUM PATHOL 28:834-839. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saun ders Company.