Development of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type in cerebrum following Epstein-Barr virus-positive uveitis

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman developed bilateral uveitis with high Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load in the vitreous fluid without lymphoma cells. Four years after the onset, T2-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI revealed hyperintense lesions in the right occipital and parietal lobe. A biopsy resulted in the diagnosis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type (ENKL). The repeat region of LMP1, an EBV gene, detected in the brain lesion was identical to that detected in the vitreous fluid. ENKL of the central nervous system is quite rare, and the pathogenesis has not been determined. The lymphoma in this case might have been closely associated with the EBV-positive uveitis.