Persistent Epstein-Barr virus infection and a histiocytic sarcoma in a renal transplant recipient

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Abstract
Lymphomas occurring in renal transplant recipients are mostly large cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (B‐cell‐derived). A sarcoma with all morphologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of a tumor of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) developed in a 23‐year‐old woman 1 year after renal transplantation. Anti‐Epstein‐Barr‐virus antibody titers proved to be exceptionally high, even in pretransplant sera. Tumor‐derived cells proved to be positive for Epstein‐Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA), and hybridization showed multiple copies of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐DNA, suggesting a relationship between this tumor and EBV. More widespread use of immunochemical and histochemical diagnostic techniques might detect more cases, which, until now, have probably been diagnosed as B‐cell‐derived immunoblastic lymphomas.