RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Primary cerebral lymphoma: a study of 47 cases probed for Epstein-Barr virus genome. JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 587 OP 590 DO 10.1136/jcp.45.7.587 VO 45 IS 7 A1 Geddes, J F A1 Bhattacharjee, M B A1 Savage, K A1 Scaravilli, F A1 McLaughlin, J E YR 1992 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/45/7/587.abstract AB AIMS: To determine the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus genome in primary cerebral lymphomas occurring in the absence of immune suppression. METHODS: Forty eight consecutive patients with lymphomas restricted to the central nervous system were identified, all of whom had had neurosurgical biopsies performed at the National Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London. Only five patients had some form of underlying immune deficiency; 43 were apparently normal. The tumours were studied with immunohistochemical markers and by in situ hybridisation, using a biotinylated probe to the internal repeat region of Epstein-Barr virus. RESULTS: All the lymphomas were B cell in origin. Tumours from the five immunosuppressed patients all showed hybridisation, as did two of the "spontaneous" tumours. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest series of cerebral lymphomas so far probed for Epstein-Barr virus genome: as more are examined, it is suggested that a small proportion of the tumours from immunocompetent patients will also contain the virus.