Ali Arican

Prevalence of hepatitis-G virus and hepatitis-C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Several studies have reported that hepatitis-C virus may have a role in the development of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Hepatitis-G virus has hepatitis-C virus like characteristics. The possible association between hepatitis-G virus infection and non-Hodgkins lymphoma is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis-G virus and hepatitis-C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma without blood transfusion. Forty-four patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma were enrolled in the study. Serum samples derived from the patients were tested for antibodies against hepatitis-C virus by ELISA. Hepatitis-G virus and hepatitis-C virus RNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Only two of 44 patients (5%) with non-Hodgkins lymphoma were positive for Anti-HCV and hepatitis C virus RNA. One patient had low grade non-Hodgkins lymphoma with follicular mixed histopathology while the other had intermediate grade with diffuse large cell histopathology. Hepatitis-G virus infection was detected in none of the patients. We concluded that hepatitis-G virus does not seem to be in association with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Concurrent occurrence of three neoplasms including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma and leiomyoma in the same kidney.

A 53-year-old man with triple renal neoplasms in his left kidney presented. He was initially diagnosed intermediate grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) which involved gastro-intestinal tract, left kidney, liver and pancreas. He underwent left nefrectomy because of a persistent renal mass after the completion of chemotherapy. The large renal mass revealed a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Additionally, multiple small nodules of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a solitary leiomyoma were observed.

Results of treatment in renal transplant patients with Kaposi sarcoma: one-center experience

IMMUNOSUPPRESSED allograft recipients are known to be at increased risk for developing certain types of malignant tumors. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is one of these tumors. KS develops in 0.06% to 4.1% of renal transplant recipients, and represents 3% to 70% of all posttransplantation tumors. Although there is increased risk of KS in renal transplant patients, treatment of these patients varies between centers. In this retrospective analysis, we document treatment outcome of all patients who developed KS after renal transplantation.

Effect of pulse steroid therapy in a patient with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a condition in which granulomas form in various tissues through the accumulation of abnormal histiocytes (Langerhans’ cells), granulocytes and lymphocytes. An important distinction between LCH and primary pulmonary histiocytosis (PPH) is that smoking cessation is known to often lead to spontaneous improvement in PPH patients, while this has not been demonstrated in patients with multisystem LCH. In this case report, we describe the case of a 20‐year‐old man who presented with cough and palpably enlarged lymph nodes in his neck. An inguinal lymph node biopsy led to the diagnosis of multisystem LCH in the lungs, the cervical, intra‐abdominal, and inguinal lymph nodes and the spleen. The patient was a smoker, and had averaged 30 cigarettes per day for 7 years. To address the multisystem involvement, intravenous pulse steroid therapy was administered (30–40 mg/kg daily) in two 3‐day treatment periods separated by 3–4 weeks. The patient was also advised to stop smoking, and did so. Serial follow‐up examinations confirmed an objective improvement with complete remission. The patient was still healthy at 18 months post‐treatment, reflecting a dramatic and positive response to pulse steroid therapy. This encouraging result makes this case an important one to highlight.