Boulanger et al listed criteria for the diagnosis of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) associated with Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, KSHV). The authors are from multiple hospitals in Paris, Saint-Mande and Ajaccio in France.
Criteria:
(1) presence of a lymphomatous effusion in 1 or more serous cavities (pleura, pericardium, peritoneum)
(2) morphology of cells from the effusion after May-Grunwald-Giemsa staining (large, pleomorphic cells that are CD45 and CD30 positive and negative for B and T cell markers)
(3) evidence of HHV-8 infection in lymphoma cells (by PCR, Southern blot or immunohistochemistry)
where:
• A patient may have lymphomatous involvement of extraserous sites (bone marrow, mediastinum, etc.)
• The lymphoma cells are often co-infected with Epstein-Barr virus.
• Patients may have Kaposi’s sarcoma and/or Castleman disease.
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