Clinicopathologic analysis of HIV-negative plasmablastic lymphoma / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical, pathologic, immunophenotype, molecular characteristics and prognosis of HIV-negative plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve cases of HIV-negative PBLs diagnosed between 2005 and 2014 in Guangdong General Hospital were identified according to WHO classification of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (2008). The clinicopathologic features and outcome were analyzed and the relevant literatures were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients were predominantly male (11/12) with a median age of 55.5 years. The tumor cells showed the characteristic combination of immunoblastic/plasmablastic morphology, plasma cell phenotype and high proliferation, no expression of mature B cell markers. 7/10 of the cases were EBER positive. Two cases were positive for C-myc translocation. Four of twelve patients were died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PBL is a rare, aggressive B-cell lymphoma. HIV-negative PBL has lower rate of oral involvement and EBER expression than HIV-positive patients, the differential diagnosis is very challenging, and the prognosis is worse.</p>