Spectrum of childhood Epstein-Barr virus-associated T-cell proliferations and bone marrow findings

Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2011 Jan-Feb;14(1):28-37. doi: 10.2350/09-12-0753-OA.1. Epub 2010 Apr 5.

Abstract

Systemic Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of childhood is a recently described entity. The majority of such cases have been reported from Asia, which suggests an underlying genetic predisposition. We analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics of 5 children with EBV+ T-cell lymphoid proliferations evaluated and treated at our institute over a 2-year period. There were 3 males and 2 females of Latino (n = 4) or Caucasian (n = 1) heritage with a median age of 5 years (age range 2-18 years). All patients presented with EBV infection (acute, n = 4) with elevated serum EBV viral loads at the time of diagnosis and had systemic manifestations, including fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. The bone marrow biopsies showed EBV+/CD8+ T-cell lymphocytosis in all patients, with variable degrees of histiocytosis, plasmacytosis, and hemophagocytosis. Interestingly, there was marked and consistent depletion of mature and precursor B cells in the marrow (<1% of total marrow cellularity) in all patients. Three of the patients died of disease-associated complications 2 to 12 weeks after initial diagnosis. Our study describes the detailed bone marrow findings, contributes to the growing number of cases of systemic EBV+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of childhood occurring in the Western hemisphere, and documents this disorder in patients from the Caribbean countries.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / pathology*
  • Cell Separation
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / immunology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / pathology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / virology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Male
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Viral Load