HIV-negative, HHV-8-unrelated primary effusion lymphoma-like lymphoma: Report of two cases

Abstract

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare type of lymphoma confined to the body cavities, such as pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. PEL is usually associated with human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, however, there are some reports of HIV-negative and HHV-8-unrelated cases. Recently, these cases are described as HHV-8-unrelated PEL-like lymphoma. Here, we report two such cases. In both cases, no lymphadenopathy or organ involvement with lymphoma was found. Surface marker revealed that they were both CD20 positive lymphoma. Systemic chemotherapy with CHOP regimen with rituximab was effective and gradually led to disappearance of the lymphoma. HHV-8-unrelated PEL-like lymphoma is truly a distinct clinical entity and the prognosis of it seems to be better than PEL.