A case of Epstein–Barr virus-associated natural killer/T-cell lymphoma presenting as dermatomyositis: extranodal relapse after 7 years in remission

Abstract

A 56-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital due to a fever of unknown origin. He had had a history of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, and had been in complete remission for 7 years until June 2003, when he developed high fever, eyelid swelling, and muscular weakness. Serum creatine kinase levels were elevated. Histopathological examination of skin and muscle biopsy specimens revealed subcutaneous infiltration of lymphoid cells positive for CD3, CD56, and Epstein–Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNA-1. We report this unique case of Epstein–Barr virus-associated lymphoma mimicking dermatomyositis.

Key words:

• Dermatomyositis
• Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)
• Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma