Acta Dermato-Venereologica 99-13CompleteContent | Page 28
1299
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Epstein-Barr Virus-related Multi-site Mucocutaneous Ulcer: A Previously Undescribed Clinical Subset
of a Rare Disease
Emilie SCHWOB 1 , Vanessa SZABLEWSKI 2 , Mathilde LERISSON 1 and Olivier DEREURE 1 *
1
Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, University of Montpellier and INSERM U1058, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, Montpellier Cedex
5, and 2 Laboratory of Pathology, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France. *E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted Aug 12, 2019; E-published Aug 13, 2019
Epstein-Barr virus-related mucocutaneous ulcer
(EBV+MCU) is a rare and recently individualized type of
EBV-induced B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, most
often linked to immunosuppression. It presents mainly as
unique or few mucosal and/or cutaneous ulceration(s),
initially reported with an indolent, usually self-resolving
course unlike other EBV-driven lymphoproliferative
conditions. However, more recent reports emphasized
its possible clinical heterogeneity, including multisite
lesions along with a relatively more aggressive outcome
in some cases. We hereby report a further observation of
this rare disease that might enlarge its clinical spectrum
owing to an unprecedented pattern of atypical and dis-
seminated lesions.
Fig. 1. Multiple purplish ulcerated nodular lesions on the left thigh.
CASE REPORT
A 72-year-old male patient with no significant medical background
was referred for evaluation of multiple purplish, ulcerated nodular
lesions of the left thigh of 2-months duration, rapidly followed by
the occurrence on similar elements on the left knee (Fig. 1) and
of subcutaneous nodules located on the left shoulder, left ankle
and lower back. Apart from these skin lesions, the size of which
ranged from 5 to 20 mm in diameter at initial evaluation, physical
examination was otherwise unremarkable with a conserved general
status and no palpable lymphadenopathy. Standard biological tests
showed an isolated moderate lymphopaenia (910/mm 3 ) and mono-
clonal IgM kappa. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left
thigh revealed multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous hypersignals
with peripheral enhancement and deep fascia invasion, whereas
computed tomography (CT)- 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emis-
sion tomography (PET) identified several hyper-metabolic subcu-
taneous and muscle foci of the lower limbs, the majority of which
did not correspond to clinically relevant elements. Biopsies of left
thigh ulceration and left ankle subcutaneous nodule both revealed
a heavy dermal infiltrate, consisting of epithelioid histiocytes and
polymorphonuclear leukocytes associated with atypical large
Hodgkin-like, sometimes mummified cells, displaying irregular
and often nucleolated nuclei along with a vastly ulcerated overly-
ing epidermis for the thigh lesion (Fig. 2a). Plasmacytoid apoptotic
Fig. 2. (a) Thigh skin biopsy
(haematoxylin and eosin staining,
×20 magnification; ×40 magnification
for the highly magnified inset):
heterogeneous admixed dermal
infiltrate of large atypical lymphocytes
with occasional Reed-Sternberg-
like cells, small lymphocytes, and
histiocytes. (b) Strong expression of
CD30 by Reed-Sternberg-like cells
(×10 original magnification). (c)
Expression of OCT 2 by Hodgkin-like
cells (×20 original magnification). (d)
Highly positive in situ hybridization for
EBER (×40 original magnification).
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. www.medicaljournals.se/acta
Journal Compilation © 2019 Acta Dermato-Venereologica.
doi: 10.2340/00015555-3290
Acta Derm Venereol 2019; 99: 1299–1300