OBJECTIVETo explore the clinicopathologic features of CD30-positive sinusoidal large B-cell lymphoma (CD30 + SLBCL) and its relative correlation with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

METHODSTwo cases of CD30 + SLBCL, a 65-year-old men and a 85-year-old women were morphologically and immunophenotypically analyzed. EBV status was also evaluated through not only the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to the EBV Bam HIW DNA sequence, but also an immunohistochemical detection of the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1).

RESULTSThe patients presented with similarly superficial lymphadenopathy. One of them died of the tumor within 10 months. Microscopically, both of the neoplasms were characterized by a cohesive sinus growth pattern and the monomorphic cytology of the tumor cells. Immunohistochemically, They were both positive for CD45, CD30, and CD20 or CD79alpha, whereas neither expressed EMA, ALK1, nor any histiocytic/T-lineage markers. No evidence of EBV-infection could be found either.

CONCLUSIONSCD30 + SLBCL is a morphologically and immunophenotypically distinctive variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which should be distinguished from T/null cell type anaplastic large cell lymphoma and some other nodal lesions with a predominantly sinusoidal infiltrative pattern. CD30 + SLBCL may not be correlation with EBV.