Epstein–Barr virus infection in B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region: Is there any evidence?
- Author:
Laila Mustafa ABDELRAHIM
1
;
Suat-Cheng PEH
;
Thomas George KALLARAKKAL
Author Information
1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
B-cell NHL;
Epstein–Barr virus;
in-situ hybridisation;
maxillofacial region;
oral cavity
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2018;40(1):49-56
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) might be an aetiological agent involved in the pathogenesis of certain Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (NHLs). EBV infection has been diagnosed by serologic testing within the tumour biopsies of patients with NHL. However, the association between EBV and NHL is inconsistent with a preference for certain anatomic sites, histologic subtypes and immunosuppressed patients. The objective of this study was to characterise the B-cell NHLs of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region using histological and immunophenotypical techniques and to determine its association with EBV infection. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 14 cases of B-cell NHLs of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region. The haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumours classification of WHO was used to categorize the cases. In-situ hybridisation for EBV–encoded RNA was performed to confirm the EBV infection. Results: The average age of the patients included in the study was found to be 48.8 ± 23 years with a higher female to male ratio (1.3:1). Our study suggested that diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) and Burkitt’s lymphomas (BLs) constitute the predominant subtypes of lymphomas affecting the oral cavity and maxillofacial regions. Conclusion: The findings from our study support the view that at least a relatively smaller proportion of B-cell NHLs that occur in the oral cavity and maxillofacial region do not have a pathogenic association with EBV.
