The Incidence of EBV in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Comparative Study of Immunohistochemical and PCR Techniques

Background and Objectives: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is one of the members of herpesviridae family and a sub-category of Gamma herpes virinae. EBV, which normally has CR2 or CD21 receptors on B-lymphocytes, has mutagenic features for them. The virus plays an important role in causing some malignant cancers. About 30% of the cases with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In the present study, the incidence rate of EBV in DLBCL was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and PCR methods were used for studying the relationship between EBV and DLBCL. Paraffin blocks of 116 patients from Sina & Shariati hospitals, Tehran, Iran, with DLBCL diagnoses in 2005-2009 were collected. EBV-LMP in IHC and PCR virus genome in PCR were examined. Results: Findings of the PCR method showed that 28 cases of the total 116 patients with DLBCL were EBV positive (the frequency of EBV positivity was correspondingly 40% and 60% in females and males) and this shows a 25.8% EBV frequency in DLBCL. IHC findings showed that six cases were EBV positive. The compatibility of positive IHC and PCR responses was two cases and there are four conflicting cases. Conclusion: It seems that PCR is a more appropriate method for diagnosing EBV and IHC cannot solely prove the presence of EBV in DCBCL patients.