Primary hepatic Epstein–Barr virus-associated CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma of cytotoxic phenotype

Primary hepatic peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is exceedingly rare. We encountered such a case in a 58-year-old Hispanic female with a history of chronic sinusitis and hypothyroidism who presented with 4 weeks of fever and weight loss. Laboratory studies showed altered liver function and mild pancytopenia. Hepatitis and HIV infection were excluded by negative serological tests. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed innumerable small low-density lesions throughout the liver without splenomegaly or lymphadenopathy. CT-guided liver core biopsy showed scattered small lymphoid aggregates located mainly in the portal tracts and periportal regions. Within the lymphoid aggregates, scattered large pleomorphic lymphoma cells were seen, admixed with smaller lymphoid cells and histiocytes. By immunohistochemistry, the lymphoma cells expressed CD2, CD3, CD8, CD30, CD43, CD45, granzyme B, TIA-1, and negative for CD4, CD5, CD7, CD56, βF1, ALK-1, and B-cell markers. In situ hybridization for Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) was positive in some lymphoma cells. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of primary hepatic Epstein–Barr virus-associated PTCL with CD30 expression.