Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma of an adult: a case report with review of the literature

Abstract

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma (HVL) is a rare type of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive lymphoma of cytotoxic T-cell or natural killer cell origin that mainly affect children, characterized by a vesicopapular skin eruption that clinically resemble hydroa vacciniforme (HV). In current study, we report an adult patient with the tumor. The patient presented similar morphologic, immunophenotypic and genotypic changes of the disease with that occurred in children, whereas clinically, he showed a prolonged clinical course without hepatosplenomegaly or generalized lymphadenopathy. Whether there are some differences in biologic behavior between children and adults still remains unknown and it is necessary to collect more data to observe and to investigate in the future.

Virtual slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/7644172219178472.

Figure 1

Skin lesions of hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma on the onset. Papulovascular eruptions on the head (A), facial skin around nose (B) and thoracic skin (C).

Figure 2

Morphology changes, Immunohistochemical stain and in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) of hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma. A. The infiltrate is mainly concentrated in the epidermis and dermis, not subcutaneous areas. B-C. Neoplastic cells are predominantly small without marked atypia. D. CD3ϵ positive. E. CD2 positive. F. EBER positive.