Study of association of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphomas by Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA in situ hybridization: An Indian perspective from a tertiary care cancer institute

Background: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also called human herpesvirus 4, is a virus of the herpes family. The EBV-associated lymphomas include Burkitt lymphoma, classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), lymphomas arising in immunocompromised individuals, peripheral T-cell lymphomas, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, and other rare histotypes. Objective: The present study evaluated the role of EBV as an etiologic agent in various lymphomas and determined an Indian perspective in a tertiary care cancer center compared to that of Western literature. Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological spectrum was studied in 184 cases of lymphomas using a standard immunohistochemistry panel and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) expression. Results and Conclusions: The prevalence of EBV was described in various HL and non-HL's and was found similar to that of Western literature. EBER expression was also observed in the nonneoplastic bystander cells in the studied cases which need further evaluation on larger scale studies.