What is it about?
Marginal zone lymphoma is a heterogeneous category of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) represent 2% of lymphoid neoplasia. Epidemiologic studies have linked this category of NHLs to several agents capable of establishing chronic infections in humans. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been linked especially with SMZL.
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Why is it important?
We report a high frequency of HBV- and HCV-positive SMZL lymphoma cases in an area with a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infection. As the relationship between HBV and NHL is still a matter of debate, establishing a connection between SMZL and HBV will most likely be challenging due to the rarity of SMZL and the variable incidence of HBV infection worldwide. We believe that the study of this relationship in areas of high HBV prevalence will have a greater chance of success.
Perspectives
Given the increasing evidence of involvement of HBV and HCV in the development of NHL, the relationship between these viruses and SMZL should be carefully investigated in future studies. A solution for the ascertainment of cases of all cases of SMZL in our region would be the establishment of a lymphoma registry in the nortwestern region of Romania.
Ms Luminita M Blaga
Institute of Oncology Cluj-Napoca
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: High prevalence of viral hepatitis in a series of splenic marginal zone lymphomas from Romania, Blood Cancer Journal, November 2016, Nature,
DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2016.102.
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