CNK/T-cell brain lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus in a patient with AIDS

Neuropathology. 2007 Aug;27(4):396-402. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2007.00784.x.

Abstract

We report a case of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, with exclusive cerebral localization in a patient with AIDS. The patient presented with neurological alterations, fever and convulsions, so the initial presumptive diagnosis was an opportunistic brain infection. MRI showed a left parietal necrotic lesion and a stereotactic brain biopsy was performed for pathological, microbiological and molecular studies. Histological sections showed an angiocentric and angiodestructive growth pattern and the immunophenotype of this tumor was CD56+, CD45+, CD3+ (cytoplasmic), Granzyme B+ and Perforin+. All the microbiological studies such as bacterial, fungi, micobacteria, Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptococcus determination were negatives. A PCR study with primer specific for EBV viral genome of Bam-Hi-w system was positive. Also, a rearrangement study showed T-cell gene rearrangement with monoclonal appearance. A diagnosis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma was made and the patient died a few days later. This case represents a very rare example of NK/T-cell lymphoma of the brain in a patient with AIDS. The diagnosis of this kind of lymphomas requires a multimodality approach correlating clinical, morphological, immunophenotypic and molecular data.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / pathology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / virology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / genetics
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / virology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / virology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction